Cubs, Astros set for two spring games in Houston

The Astros will tune up for their first season in the American League by playing their former National League Central Division rivals, the Cubs, in two spring exhibition games March 29-30 at Minute Maid Park.

This will be the Cubs' only visit to Houston in 2013. The two teams do square off at Wrigley Field on June 21-23 in Interleague play.

Start times for the exhibition games will be 7:05 p.m. CT on March 29 and 1:05 p.m. CT on March 30.

The Cubs close the Cactus League portion of their spring schedule on March 28 and open the 2013 regular season April 1 in Pittsburgh. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report Feb. 10 with the first workout the following day. The full squad was scheduled to report Feb. 16 and will workout the next day under manager Dale Sveum.

The Spring Training report date for Astros pitchers and catchers is Feb. 11 with the first workout scheduled for the next day. The report date for position players is Feb. 15, and the first full-squad workout was scheduled for the next day.

The Astros play their Spring Training games at the Osceola County Stadium complex in Kissimmee, Fla., and the first game will be Feb. 23 in Clearwater against the Phillies. Houston's spring home opener will be Feb. 24 against the Mets at 1:05 p.m. ET.

Astros' Spring Training season tickets start at $240 for all 16 games and can be purchased by calling (321) 697-3201. Individual tickets, which start at $15, will go on sale in mid-January.