The Tigers and Red Sox open a four-game series at Fenway Park in Boston on Friday night.
And, just so you’re prepared: The series opener will not be on Detroit SportsNet.
The Tigers, fresh off a 6-0 home stand that put their record back above .500 (10-9), are set to make their second appearance on a national broadcast platform this season. Here’s what you need to know:
Where can I watch the Tigers-Red Sox game on Friday night?
The series opener between the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox on Friday, April 17, will be broadcast on Apple TV, which requires a paid subscription. There’s a seven-day free trial subscription for new customers.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m., and play-by-play man Wayne Randazzo and analyst Dontrelle Willis, a former Tigers pitcher, will be on the call, along with sideline reporter Heidi Watney. Also part of the broadcast are former major-league umpires Ted Barrett and Brian Gorman, to break down any rules or umpire issues (though it’s doubtful they’ll have to break down anything like this from Thursday’s Tigers-Kansas City Royals game).
How often are the Tigers are national TV in 2026?
Friday marks the Tigers’ second appearance on a national broadcast this season, after they were on “Sunday Night Baseball” on Peacock on Easter Sunday in a game that drew a lot of build-up buzz because it was scheduled to be Justin Verlander’s return to Detroit as a Tiger. (That start, of course, didn’t happen.)
The Tigers are scheduled to be on national TV and streaming platforms at least 16 times in 2026, with 140-plus games on Detroit SportsNet, including the last three games of the Red Sox series. The entire series will be on 97.1 FM.
Who is starting for the Tigers against the Red Sox on Friday night?
Friday’s series opener will feature Detroit’s Casey Mize against Boston’s Ranger Suarez, who signed a five-year, $140 million free-agent contract this winter.
You can check out the complete probable-pitcher rundown for the series HERE.
How did the Tigers play against the Boston Red Sox in 2025?
The Tigers were 4-2 against the Red Sox in 2025, with the most notable win coming in the second-to-last game of the regular season, when Detroit won, 4-2, at Fenway Park to clinch a spot in the postseason.
Are Joey Cora and Alex Cora related?
Yes, they sure. Tigers third-base coach Joey Cora (who had an eventful series against the Royals) is the older brother of Red Sox manager Alex Cora. Joey is 60 and Alex is 50.
tpaul@detroitnews.com
@tonypaul1984
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: How to watch Tigers vs. Boston Red Sox on Friday: TV channel, start time
Reporting by Tony Paul, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
