The full-scale preparations for the 2026 MLB season have begun.
The Atlanta Braves and Detroit Tigers will meet in a Spring Training game in the Florida Grapefruit League.
Atlanta, looking to bounce back from a disappointing season, faces off against Detroit, who completed a blockbuster rotation through an aggressive offseason.
Game Overview
| Category | Details |
| Date & Time | February 24, 2026 (Tue) 1:05 PM (ET) |
| Local Time | February 24 (Tue) 1:05 PM (ET) |
| Venue | CoolToday Park (North Port, Florida) |
| Event | 2026 MLB Spring Training (Grapefruit League) |
| Home Team | Atlanta Braves |
| Away Team | Detroit Tigers |
This game will be held at CoolToday Park, the Atlanta Braves' Spring Training home.
With a capacity of approximately 6,200 seats, the park is located in North Port, Florida, and features a sprawling 90-acre training facility.
As this is an early Spring Training game, both teams are expected to focus on checking the condition of their starters and testing young players.
2025 Season Review
The two teams had starkly contrasting 2025 seasons.
The Atlanta Braves finished 76-86, placing 4th in the NL East and failing to reach the postseason.
Their ace-caliber starters went down one after another with injuries, shaking the team's foundation, and the lineup also underperformed expectations.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers posted an 87-75 record, finishing 2nd in the AL Central and reaching the postseason for the second consecutive year.
They surged with a dominant 59-34 first-half record, though they stumbled somewhat in the second half.
In the postseason, they were eliminated in the ALDS, falling to the Seattle Mariners 3 games to 2.
| Category | Atlanta | Detroit |
| 2025 Record | 76-86 | 87-75 |
| Division Standing | NL East 4th | AL Central 2nd |
| Postseason | Did not qualify | Eliminated in ALDS |
Key Offseason Moves
The Detroit Tigers went "all in" during the offseason.
They made aggressive acquisitions that earned an 'A' grade from experts.
The most eye-catching move was signing Framber Valdez to a 3-year, $115 million deal.
Additionally, legendary pitcher Justin Verlander returned to Detroit on a 1-year, $13 million contract.
Verlander reunites with Valdez, his former teammate in Houston, and the Tigers have now assembled a star-studded rotation of Skubal-Valdez-Verlander-Mize-Flaherty.
They also bolstered the bullpen by adding experienced arms including Kenley Jansen ($9 million), Kyle Finnegan ($8.75 million), and Drew Anderson ($7 million).
The Atlanta Braves also made their own additions.
Most notably, they signed former San Diego Padres closer Robert Suarez to strengthen the bullpen.
However, they have been criticized for being passive in acquiring external starting rotation help.
Even before Spring Training began, Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep underwent elbow surgery, creating an emergency in the rotation.
Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo Lopez, and Grant Holmes are expected to fill four spots, while Bryce Elder and Joey Wentz are competing for the fifth slot.
Detroit Key Offseason Acquisitions
• Framber Valdez (3 years / $115 million)
• Justin Verlander (1 year / $13 million)
• Kenley Jansen, Kyle Finnegan, Drew Anderson (bullpen reinforcements)
Atlanta Key Offseason Acquisitions
• Robert Suarez (bullpen addition)
• Rotation gaps created by Schwellenbach and Waldrep surgeries
Atlanta Braves Key Players
Atlanta's cornerstone is undoubtedly Ronald Acuña Jr.
Despite suffering a second ACL tear in 2024, he successfully returned in the 2025 season and won the NL Comeback Player of the Year award.
In 95 games, he posted an impressive .290 batting average, .417 on-base percentage, .935 OPS, with 21 home runs and 42 RBI.
If he stays healthy, he is a player capable of delivering another MVP-caliber season in 2026.
The anchor of the pitching staff is Chris Sale.
The veteran left-hander, who won the 2024 NL Cy Young Award, continued his excellence in 2025, making 21 starts and posting a 7-5 record with a 2.58 ERA, 165 strikeouts, and a 1.07 WHIP.
Though he missed over two months during the season with a rib fracture, he proved he was still in top form after returning, posting a 2.72 ERA over his final 36 innings.
Another key storyline to watch is the condition of Spencer Strider.
In his 2025 comeback from a season-ending 2024 injury, he posted a 4.45 ERA with a 7-14 record in 23 starts, falling short of expectations.
However, he showed signs of his fastball velocity returning in his final 6 starts, recording a 2.50 ERA down the stretch.
How the Braves manage his shoulder and arm this Spring Training could determine the direction of their season.
| Player | Position | 2025 Key Stats |
| Ronald Acuña Jr. | RF | .290/.417/.935 OPS, 21HR, 42RBI (95G) |
| Marcell Ozuna | DH | .232/.355/.400, 21HR (145G) |
| Chris Sale | SP | 7-5, 2.58 ERA, 165K, 1.07 WHIP |
| Spencer Strider | SP | 7-14, 4.45 ERA (23GS) |
Detroit Tigers Key Players
Detroit's ace Tarik Skubal is currently one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball.
A back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winner in 2024 and 2025, he posted a dominant 13-6 record with a 2.21 ERA, 241 strikeouts, and a 0.891 WHIP in 2025.
He ranked at the top in nearly every sabermetric category, including leading all pitchers in WAR (6.6), with an ERA+ of 187 and a FIP of 2.45.
His Spring Training appearance, even if brief in innings, will be a major attraction in itself.
The heart of the lineup is Riley Greene.
He hit career highs in 2025 with 36 home runs, 111 RBI, and 84 runs scored, while batting .258 with a .313 on-base percentage.
Appearing in 157 games with consistent production, he is a core piece of the Tigers' offense.
Kerry Carpenter is another player to watch.
He showcased tremendous power with 26 home runs in 2025, forming a formidable offensive tandem alongside Greene.
| Player | Position | 2025 Key Stats |
| Tarik Skubal | SP | 13-6, 2.21 ERA, 241K, 0.891 WHIP |
| Riley Greene | CF | .258/.313, 36HR, 111RBI (157G) |
| Kerry Carpenter | RF/DH | .252, 26HR, 109H |
| Framber Valdez | SP (New) | 3-year, $115 million contract |
| Justin Verlander | SP (Return) | 1-year, $13 million contract |
Head-to-Head Record
Since the Atlanta Braves and Detroit Tigers only meet in Interleague play, their overall head-to-head history is relatively limited.
In the all-time series, Atlanta leads 18-15 across 33 games.
Notably, Atlanta is currently on an 8-game winning streak against Detroit, including a 6-2 road victory in the most recent meeting on September 21, 2025.
The two teams have never met in the postseason.
| Category | Record |
| All-Time Record | Atlanta 18 wins - Detroit 15 wins (33 games) |
| Current Streak | Atlanta 8-game win streak |
| Most Recent Game | Sep 21, 2025: Atlanta 6 - Detroit 2 |
| Postseason Matchups | None |
Key Matchup Factors
1. Early Spring Training Innings Management for Starting Pitchers
As this is an early Spring Training game, both teams' starting pitchers will likely be limited to around 2-3 innings.
Multiple pitchers will follow in relay fashion as roster competition heats up.
This is particularly noteworthy for Atlanta, where the battle for the fifth rotation spot is fierce, making the performance of every pitcher who takes the mound all the more critical.
2. Detroit's New Acquisitions Settling In
Several new faces, including Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander, have donned the Detroit uniform.
This is a great opportunity to see how quickly they adapt to the new team environment and how their chemistry develops with existing players.
For Verlander in particular, returning to Detroit where his career began will no doubt carry special significance.
3. Health Check on Atlanta's Returning Players
The condition of key players returning from injuries, including Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider, is a major concern.
Acuña successfully returned in the 2025 season after his 2024 ACL tear, but was sidelined again during the season with a calf injury.
Whether Strider has fully regained his velocity and command will also be a key factor for the 2026 season.
What to Watch
Verlander's Return to Detroit
Justin Verlander debuted with Detroit in 2005 and served as the Tigers' ace through 2017.
After stints with the Houston Astros and New York Mets, he is once again wearing the Detroit uniform.
The sight of a legend still taking the mound at age 43 is inspiring in itself for baseball fans.
Although it is only Spring Training, the moment he steps on the mound in a Detroit uniform again will undoubtedly be a meaningful scene.
The Atlanta Rotation Battle
With Schwellenbach and Waldrep sidelined, all eyes are on who will claim the suddenly open rotation spots.
Bryce Elder, Joey Wentz, and non-roster invitees like Carlos Carrasco and Martin Perez — experienced pitchers — are also looking to seize the opportunity.
Which of these pitchers takes the mound in this game and how they perform could provide clues about the rotation competition.
Prospect Watching
One of the joys of Spring Training is getting an early look at future stars.
Atlanta has promising arms like JR Ritchie and Owen Murphy participating as non-roster invitees.
Detroit also has numerous minor league prospects on the Spring Training roster, making this a great opportunity to catch a glimpse of both teams' futures.
2026 Season Outlook
Both teams carry high expectations for the 2026 season.
The Detroit Tigers have assembled a historically elite starting rotation and have their sights set on a World Series championship.
A rotation featuring Skubal, Valdez, Verlander, Mize, and Flaherty could arguably be the best in all of Major League Baseball.
Combined with the continued development of the lineup anchored by Greene and Carpenter, the Tigers could be a truly formidable team this year.
For the Atlanta Braves, health is the biggest variable.
If core players like Acuña, Sale, and Strider can stay healthy for a full season, they have the talent to return to the postseason.
However, the significant injury risks in the starting rotation and a passive approach to external reinforcements remain causes for concern.
This Spring Training will be a crucial period to provide answers to those questions.
Key Storylines for 2026
• Detroit: Synergy of the star-studded rotation, World Series push
• Atlanta: Health of returning players, stabilizing the starting rotation
• Both teams: Building optimal conditioning through Spring Training
Prediction
The outcome of a Spring Training game has no direct impact on the regular season.
However, both teams will use this game as an important part of their preparation for the 2026 season.
Detroit will look to assess how well their new acquisitions are adapting and their chemistry with existing players, while Atlanta will evaluate the condition of their returning injured players and the capabilities of their rotation candidates.
Atlanta's 8-game winning streak in the all-time series is an interesting stat, but given the nature of Spring Training, both teams are likely to prioritize player management and roster evaluation over winning.
Don't miss the start of spring baseball under the warm Florida sun.