Don’t look now, but the Tigers’ schedule for the next month won’t get any easier

On the one hand, as disappointing as the season-opening series in Tampa Bay was, it’s absurd to jump to conclusions about how the team will do this year based on three games – especially three games in a building that has given the Detroit Tigers fits for decades (they are 1-5 in their last six there).

Depending on which old-time manager you listen to, it either takes 40 games (per Sparky Anderson) or 54 (per Tommy Lasorda) to assess what kind of team you have.

Not three.

Unfortunately, this is also true: The Tigers’ schedule over the next month is going to be brutal.

The Tigers’ first 40 games are brutal

They will have to go on the road to play Houston, Toronto, Milwaukee and Baltimore – all teams with winning records last year, and of course, one of them is the defending World Series champions.

And the first two road series in May are at St. Louis and Cleveland – both also playoff teams from last season.

The home part of the schedule is a little better, with April series against Boston and San Francisco, but also Cleveland, Baltimore and – the first few days of May – the Mets.

Starting May 16, the Tigers finally get a bit of a break with an eight-game stretch against the Pirates, Nationals and Royals. God only knows what their record will be by then.

Look, everyone has to play everyone this year. The schedule is no excuse. But the Tigers definitely got hit with the toughest part of their schedule right at the start of the season. If ever there was a chance to prove they’re not what people thought they were, this is it.

Find the 2023 Detroit Tigers schedule below

This page will be updated after each game with the result and the Tigers running record.

Go Tigers!