Cold Open: Dragons, Lugnuts Set for Chilly Season Opener in Lansing

LANSING, Mich. (Interstat) — The Dayton Dragons and Lansing Lugnuts will shake off the offseason rust and the early-April chill Thursday when they open their 2026 campaigns at Cooley Law School Stadium.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. under cloudy skies with game-time temperatures expected to be near 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

The matchup features a compelling pitching duel between two right-handers. Dayton will send Beau Blanchard to the mound, while Lansing counters with Steven Echavarria. Both pitchers, like their teams, enter with 0-0 records as the season begins.

The game marks the first meeting between the Midwest League foes since last September, when the Dragons took a 3-1 decision from the Lugnuts in Dayton on Sept. 7, 2025. That result stands as the most recent game for both clubs.

Despite the finality of last season’s encounter, both teams’ ledgers are clean. Dayton and Lansing each officially hold 0-0 records across all competitions heading into the opener.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a tight, pitcher-dominated contest, forecasting a 1-0 victory for the visiting Dragons.

Following Thursday’s opener, the two teams will continue their series in Lansing with games on Friday and Saturday. The Dragons will then head home to Dayton to begin a six-game homestand against the Lake County Captains starting Tuesday. The Lugnuts hit the road after this series for a six-game trip to face the Fort Wayne TinCaps beginning Tuesday.

For Lansing, the homestand continues next week with a series against the West Michigan Whitecaps. Dayton will embark on a road trip to face the Great Lakes Loons starting April 14.

Thursday’s opener promises a frigid but fresh start as both clubs look to build momentum in the young season.