LOOK: Detroit Tigers release their 2018 schedule

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Detroit Tigers
Mar 29, 2015; Clearwater, FL, USA; A general view of a Detroit Tigers hat, glove and sunglasses in the dugout against the Philadelphia Phillies at Bright House Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers announced their schedule for the 2018 regular season on Tuesday and there are some key things to take away from the 162-game slate.

The Tigers will continue their annual series with the Pittsburgh Pirates by playing a three-game series at Comerica Park beginning on March 29. It’s only the fourth time in the last decade that Detroit will open up the regular season at home. The March 29 Opening Day is the earliest day to start a season in both franchise and Major League Baseball history.

The Tigers and Pirates have played at least one series head-to-head every year since 2009. Many of the more recent meetings have been of the four-game home-and-home variety. But this season, the two clubs will meet up six times in 2018 with the interleague cross-division cycle changing course.

In addition to six meetings with the Bucs, they have home-and-home series with both the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds. They held a similar series with both teams back in 2015 when Detroit last played the NL Central.

Also, the Tigers will welcome in the St. Louis Cardinals for a three-game set in early September. It’ll be the first time since 2012 that the Cards pay a visit to Comerica. That will be a special weekend at Comerica Park as they honor the 1968 World Series champion Tigers, who defeated the Cardinals, 50 years later.

And to close out the season, Detroit will visit the Milwaukee Brewers, the first time that has happened since 2006.

Game broadcast information and a complete promotional lineup will come at future dates.

The 2018 campaign for the Tigers figures to be a trying one for both the players and the fans, as the team goes through a much-needed rebuild. What remains to be seen is what type of team they will be fielding come Opening Day, what moves they address in the offseason in terms of on-field personnel, and if there is a change to be made at the managerial position.