🌧️ Detroit Tigers vs Tampa Bay Rays Delayed by Rain: Unlucky Streak Continues at Temporary Home Stadium
The Detroit Tigers are once again battling more than just their opponents—this time it’s the weather. For the third consecutive day, Mother Nature has disrupted Detroit’s schedule, as their Friday night game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Tampa, Florida, was delayed due to a sudden storm, pushing the start time to 7:55 p.m. from the originally scheduled 7:05 p.m.
📅 Timeline of Recent Weather Disruptions for the Tigers
| Date | Opponent | Issue |
|---|---|---|
| June 18 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Postponed due to rain |
| June 19 | Pittsburgh Pirates (Doubleheader) | 1st game delayed 40 mins, 2nd extended by 75 mins |
| June 20 | Tampa Bay Rays | Rain delay due to sudden storm in Tampa |
🏟️ Why the Rays Are Playing Outdoors
The Tampa Bay Rays are currently displaced from their traditional Tropicana Field after Hurricane Milton caused significant damage to the dome. Their temporary home is now George M. Steinbrenner Field, typically the spring training venue for the New York Yankees.
This is the first time the Rays are playing a regular-season series entirely outdoors at this venue, increasing their vulnerability to Florida’s unpredictable summer storms.
☔ First-Ever Home Rain Delay for Rays
In May, the Rays experienced their first home rain delay in franchise history while playing at this makeshift venue. In a humorous twist, the team handed out free ponchos to fans—embracing the irony of an “indoor team” getting rained out.
Now, Detroit joins that historic list of teams caught in Tampa’s weather crossfire.
🚨 Why This Delay Matters
- Schedule Fatigue: Tigers are coming off a rain-altered doubleheader in Pittsburgh. Constant changes affect player rhythm and recovery.
- Unfamiliar Field Conditions: The Tigers are used to playing at Tropicana Field, not Steinbrenner Field, which can change ball behavior and sightlines.
- Broadcast/Logistics Disruption: Delays affect TV coverage, fan experience, and ticketing logistics.
🌩️ Weather Outlook for the Series
While forecasts were relatively clear entering the weekend, pop-up storms like Friday’s are common in Florida summers, meaning more delays could be possible during the rest of the series. Detroit Tigers rain delay vs Tampa Bay Rays.
🧾 Venue Fact: George M. Steinbrenner Field
- Location: Tampa, Florida
- Capacity: ~11,000
- Home Teams:
- Spring: New York Yankees
- MiLB: Tampa Tarpons
- Current Use: Emergency host for Rays due to hurricane damage
🏁 Conclusion
The Detroit Tigers’ rough stretch with weather continues, and now they’ve become part of an unusual chapter in Tampa Bay Rays history. As the series progresses at the open-air Steinbrenner Field, all eyes will be on the skies as much as the scoreboard.
🙋♂️ FAQs: Detroit Tigers Rain Delay vs Tampa Bay Rays (June 20, 2025)
❓Why was the Detroit Tigers vs. Tampa Bay Rays game delayed?
The game was delayed due to a sudden thunderstorm in Tampa, Florida, despite earlier forecasts predicting clear weather.
❓What time did the Tigers vs. Rays game eventually start?
The game was initially scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET but was delayed and rescheduled to begin at 7:55 p.m. ET.
❓Where was the Tigers vs. Rays game played?
Due to damage at Tropicana Field, the game was held at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida—the Yankees’ spring training stadium.
❓Why aren’t the Rays playing at Tropicana Field?
Hurricane Milton damaged the roof of Tropicana Field, forcing the Rays to relocate temporarily to Steinbrenner Field.
❓Have the Rays experienced rain delays at home before?
Yes. Since moving to the outdoor venue, the Rays had their first-ever home rain delay in May and now again in this series against the Tigers.
