The Detroit Tigers return to Comerica Park on Monday, August 24, 2026, for a 6:40 PM ET showdown against the Tampa Bay Rays. Framber Valdez gets the ball for Detroit, squaring off against Drew Rasmussen on the mound for Tampa Bay. This is a regular season matchup with playoff positioning implications still very much alive in late August. The game airs nationally on FS1, locally on Detroit SportsNet and WXYT 97.1 FM.

Probable Starters: Framber Valdez vs. Drew Rasmussen

Framber Valdez is the headliner here. The left-hander is one of the more seasoned arms the Tigers could put forward in a game with this kind of weight behind it. Known for his elite sinker and the ability to generate weak contact and ground balls in bunches, Valdez gives Detroit a legitimate chance to control the pace of this game from the first pitch. Against a Rays lineup that historically makes pitchers work deep counts, Valdez's ability to attack the zone early will be critical.

Drew Rasmussen draws the start for Tampa Bay. A right-hander with a track record of flashing quality stuff when healthy, Rasmussen is the kind of arm the Rays trust in games that matter. Detroit's lineup will need to be disciplined and patient to get to him.

Detroit Tigers Lineup for Monday Night

• Colt Keith — DH
• Hao-Yu Lee — 2B
• Kevin McGonigle — 3B
• Dillon Dingler — C
• Brett Callahan — LF
• Zach McKinstry — RF
• Spencer Torkelson — 1B
• Max Clark — CF
• Javier Báez — SS

Manager A.J. Hinch has Colt Keith leading things off at DH, with Hao-Yu Lee slotted second at second base. Kevin McGonigle hits third and Dillon Dingler cleans up at catcher — a lineup construction that puts youth and versatility at the top while leaning on Dingler's bat in run-producing situations. Spencer Torkelson drops to seventh, which is worth monitoring; the first baseman has the raw power to change a game at any spot in the order. Max Clark in center and Javier Báez batting ninth rounds out a lineup that has legitimate pop in multiple spots.

Keys to Watch at Comerica Park

• Valdez's sinker against Tampa Bay's contact hitters: The Rays rarely expand the zone, which sets up a fascinating battle against a pitcher who thrives when he's ahead in the count and generating ground balls.
• Torkelson at the plate: Batting seventh is an opportunity, not a demotion. If Torkelson can get hot in front of Clark and Báez, the bottom of this order becomes dangerous.
• Max Clark's development: Every at-bat for the young center fielder is meaningful. Watch how he handles Rasmussen's arsenal in his first look of the night.
• Bullpen depth: In a late-August game with standings implications, how Detroit manages the back half of the game if Valdez exits early could define the result.

Prediction

Valdez is the difference-maker tonight. His profile matches up well against what the Rays typically try to do offensively, and Comerica Park's spacious outfield plays right into his ground-ball tendencies. Rasmussen is a capable arm, but Detroit's lineup has enough pop to get to him — particularly if Torkelson and Dingler square up a mistake pitch or two. Tigers win this one, 4-2, behind a quality seven-inning start from Valdez and timely hitting in the middle of the order.