Detroit Tigers Split Squad Gameday, TV/Radio, Lineup

Detroit Tigers vs Washington Nationals  — 1:05 PM ET

Joker Marchant Stadium — Lakeland, FL 

Detroit Tigers at Atlanta Braves — 1:05 PM ET

Champions Stadium — Kissimmee, FL

TV: DET at ATL: Fox Sports Detroit

Radio: DET vs WSH: Nationals’ radio feed available on MLB.TV for subscribers

Live Stats: MLB Gameday

Weather: Lakeland: 86 degrees, mostly cloudy; Kissimmee: 87, partly cloudy

Game Preview

For the final time in Spring Training 2015, the Detroit Tigers will split their squads. One-half of the team will stay in Lakeland to play the Washington Nationals while the other half will head to the Kingdom of the Mouse and play the Atlanta Braves at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World.

The split squad scenario allows Victor Martinez and Miguel Cabrera to get in their first major league action, a day after playing in minor league games on the backfields of TigerTown. They will each bat third and serve as DH in their respective lineups, receiving about three at-bats each.

The game against Atlanta will be broadcast locally in Detroit and on MLB.TV for subscribers with FOX Sports Detroit picking up the Braves’ broadcast.

Fans in Detroit will get to see their team often on TV in the final weeks of Grapefruit League action with nine of the final 14 games being broadcast either on FSD, MLB Network or ESPN.

When We Last Met

The Tigers have met the Nationals and Braves three other times each this spring, going 2-1 against Atlanta and 0-2-1 against Washington. They beat the Braves 12-2 on March 13 and played to a scoreless, 10-inning tie on Thursday against the Nationals.

Detroit Tigers Lineup

Kyle Lobstein will get the start in Disney against the Braves. Lobstein will likely be optioned to Triple-A Toledo not long after the conclusion of this game as the Tigers pare their roster down toward 25 men before Opening Day, unless Brad Ausmus wants to carry him as a reliever instead of a starter but that appears unlikely. Kyle has pitched well in spring, sporting a 3.00 ERA.

Over in Lakeland, Justin Verlander will start after a rough outing when he allowed four runs against the Nationals on St. Patrick’s Day. Verlander liked his performance but didn’t like that his breaking ball hadn’t come around yet. He will look to get back on top of things a couple days after being passed over for the Opening Day starter’s role for David Price. J.V. said he totally understood the decision and said he wanted to earn it, not be handed the honor for an eighth straight season. He also added that he hopes Price is around next year so he can take it back. Verlander will likely throw 70 pitches.

In addition to the Miggy/V-Mart news, Jose Iglesias will likely play 7 or 8 innings against Atlanta.

Lineup vs WSH

1. Rajai Davis-CF
2. Alex Avila-C
3. Miguel Cabrera-DH
4. J.D. Martinez RF
5. Yoenis Cespedes-LF
6. Nick Castellanos-3B
7. Jordan Lennerton-1B
8. Hernan Perez-SS
9. Alex Wilson-2B

Lineup at ATL

1. Ian Kinsler-2B
2. Jose Iglesias-SS
3. Victor Martinez-DH
4. Tyler Collins-LF
5. James McCann-C
6. Aaron Westlake
7. Andy Marte-3B
8. Andrew Romine-RF
9. Anthony Gose-CF

Next: 5 Tigers that should make the Opening Day roster