Major League Baseball announced the schedule for the 2019 regular season on Wednesday, beginning with an Opening Series between the Athletics and Mariners in Tokyo on March 20-21.
The traditional Opening Day is scheduled for March 28, continuing the new scheduling format that begins the season with an additional week to allow each club three or four more off-days throughout the year. It will be the earliest Opening Day in MLB history, excluding special season openers abroad.
• Complete 2019 MLB schedule
Opening Day will feature 10 division matchups and an Interleague contest between the Rangers and Cubs, and, as in 2018, all 30 clubs are scheduled to play. Due to weather-related cancellations, 13 of the 15 Opening Day games were played as scheduled this season.
Next year's Interleague slate features the American League East vs. the National League West, the AL Central vs. the NL East, and the AL West vs. the NL Central, in addition to traditional rivalry series such as the Crosstown Classic between the Cubs and White Sox in Chicago, the Subway Series between the Yankees and Mets in New York, and the I-70 Series between the Cardinals and Royals in Missouri.
AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST
Blue Jays
Key series: June 4-6 vs. NYY
Opening Day: March 28 vs. DET
The Blue Jays will celebrate 30 years at Rogers Centre this season. Toronto will host the division-rival Yankees on June 5 -- the anniversary of the first game at the ballpark when it opened in 1989 as SkyDome. Blue Jays schedule >
Orioles
Key series: July 16-17 vs. WSH
Opening Day: March 28 at NYY
Home opener: April 4 vs. NYY
The Orioles will host the first two of the four-game Beltway Series, looking to reverse this year's 1-5 record against the Nationals. Orioles schedule >
Rays
Key series: Sept. 21-23 vs. BOS
Opening Day: March 28 vs. HOU
The Rays have surprised baseball not only with their unorthodox usage of their pitching staff, but also by maintaining a .500 or better record for much of this season. Next year, they're scheduled to meet the Red Sox in late September as the pennant races enter the final stage. Rays schedule >
Red Sox
Key series: July 12-14 vs. LAD
Opening Day: March 28 at SEA
Home opener: April 9 vs. TOR
A three-game series against the Dodgers highlights Boston's 2019 schedule. It marks the Dodgers' third regular-season trip to Fenway Park, and the first since 2010. The Red Sox will also travel across the Atlantic to host a two-game series against the Yankees in the MLB London Series -- the first regular-season games to be played in Europe and the first time these two rivals will meet outside New York or Boston. Red Sox schedule >
Yankees
Key series: June 29-30 vs. BOS
Opening Day: March 28 vs. BAL
One of sports' greatest rivalries will be on display in June at London Stadium, home of the 2012 Summer Olympics. The Red Sox will serve as the home team, meaning the Yankees will still play a full 81-game slate in the Bronx. Yankees schedule >
AL CENTRAL
Indians
Key date: July 9, All-Star Game
Opening Day: March 28 at MIN
Home opener: April 1 vs. CWS
Progressive Field will play host to the 90th MLB All-Star Game in July. It will be the sixth time the Tribe has hosted the Midsummer Classic -- the most of any club -- and the first since 1997, when Indians catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. took home the game's Most Valuable Player Award in front of the hometown crowd after his decisive two-out homer in the seventh inning of the AL's 3-1 victory. Indians schedule >
Royals
Key series: Aug. 16-18 vs. NYM
Opening Day: March 28 vs. CWS
Royals fans can revisit memories of the team's second title run when the Mets come to town for a rematch of the 2015 World Series. It'll be the third regular-season meeting between these clubs in Kansas City, and the second since they clashed in the Fall Classic three years ago. The clubs split a two-game set at Kauffman Stadium in April 2016. The Royals will also host the Tigers in Omaha, Neb. -- home of the College World Series -- on June 13. Royals schedule >
Tigers
Key series: June 13 at KC
Opening Day: March 28 at TOR
Home opener: April 4 vs. KC
The site of the College World Series will feature some Major League action, as the Royals host the Tigers at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb., on June 13 -- two days prior to the start of the NCAA baseball postseason tournament. It's part of the new GEICO Summer Series, which also includes the Little League Classic. The ballpark is also home to the Royals' Triple-A affiliate, the Omaha Storm Chasers, and the Creighton University Bluejays. Tigers schedule >
Twins
Key series: July 16-17 vs. NYM
Opening Day: March 28 vs. CLE
The Twins will host the Mets just after the All-Star break, with the two clubs meeting for just the 19th time in history, and the first time in Minnesota since 2013. Twins schedule >
White Sox
Key series: July 6-7 vs. CHC
Opening Day: March 28 at KC
Home opener: April 4 vs. SEA
When the clubs from the North Side and South Side of Chicago meet, it's always a big series. In 2019, the two will play first at Wrigley Field from June 18-19 to kick off the Crosstown Cup series, then at Guaranteed Rate Field in early July. White Sox schedule >
AL WEST
Angels
Key series: June 10-11 vs. LAD
Opening Day: March 28 at OAK
Home opener: April 4 vs. TEX
There's no shortage of star power when the two Los Angeles teams meet, and with the likes of Michael Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Cody Bellinger, Justin Turner and many others, the Freeway Series between the Angels and Dodgers starts at Angel Stadium in June. Angels schedule >
Astros
Key series: July 11-14 at TEX
Opening Day: March 28 at TB
Home opener: April 5 vs. OAK
The Astros visit the Rangers for the last time at Globe Life Park in Arlington in July. The in-state rivals have competed annually at the Rangers' home ballpark since 2001. The two clubs will have July 11 all to themselves as the lone MLB game that day coming out of the All-Star break. Astros schedule >
Athletics
Key series: March 20-21 vs. SEA
Opening Day: March 28 vs. LAA
The 2019 slate begins on March 20 with a two-game series between the A's and Mariners at the Toyko Dome. It's the eighth time MLB has hosted its season opener internationally, and the fourth time in Japan. The A's will serve as the home team in this year's opener. A's schedule >
Mariners
Key series: March 20-21 at OAK
Opening Day: March 28 vs. BOS
The Mariners will return to Japan to again face the A's in a season-opening two-game set. Seattle and Oakland split the most recent Opening Series in Tokyo in 2012. Both clubs will also play two exhibition games against Japanese teams on March 17-18 in doubleheaders. Mariners schedule >
Rangers
Key series: Sept. 27-29 vs. NYY
Opening Day: March 28 vs. Cubs
The Rangers will say good-bye to Globe Life Park in Arlington in 2019 before moving across the street to Globe Life Field for the '20 campaign. The final series at the ballpark the Rangers have called home since 1994 is scheduled for Sept. 27-29 against the Yankees. Rangers schedule >
NL EAST
Braves
Key series: Aug. 30-Sept. 1 vs. CWS
Opening Day: March 28 at PHI
Home opener: April 1 vs. CHC
The Braves will host the White Sox for the first time since 2002, and for the second time ever in the regular season. Braves schedule >
Marlins
Key series: May 14-15 vs. TB
Opening Day: March 28 vs. Rockies
The Citrus Series begins May 14 at Tropicana Field between the Marlins and Rays, and it will resume at Marlins Park in August. Currently, the all-time series is almost dead even, with the Rays winning 57 times, and the Marlins 56. Marlins schedule >
Mets
Key series: July 2-3 vs. NYY
Opening Day: March 28 at WSH
Home opener: April 4 vs. WSH
The Mets and Yankees will meet in the Subway Series at Yankee Stadium in June, but the series will shift to Citi Field just before the Fourth of July. Between hard-throwing Mets starters Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom, and a Yankees lineup stacked with sluggers, there could be some fireworks on the field before they're in the sky. Mets schedule >
Nationals
Key series: Sept. 27-29 vs. CLE
Opening Day: March 28 vs. NYM
The Nats will host the Indians for just the third time since the franchise arrived from Montreal in 2005. With the Nationals planning on being in contention in a much-improved NL East, and the Indians' championship window wide open, it could be a key series in determining what the postseason will look like in both leagues. Nationals schedule >
Phillies
Key series: April 5-7 vs. MIN
Opening Day: March 28 vs. ATL
The Twins haven't played in Philadelphia since 2010, and the Phillies will host Minnesota for only the third time in their second regular-season series of the year. Phillies schedule >
NL CENTRAL
Brewers
Key series: Sept. 2-3 vs. HOU
Opening Day: March 28 vs. STL
The Brewers have only hosted the Astros once since their former division rivals moved to the AL, and that was in 2016. Brewers schedule >
Cardinals
Key series: June 21-23 vs. LAA
Opening Day: March 28 at MIL
Home opener: April 4 vs. SD
For the first time since signing a 10-year, $254 million deal with the Angels in 2011, former Cardinals star Jose Pujols will return to Busch Stadium as a visiting player. This series will be Mike Trout's first trip to St. Louis -- the only big league city that has yet to see the two-time AL MVP Award winner in person. Cardinals schedule >
Cubs
Key series: Aug. 18 at PIT
Opening Day: March 28 at TEX
Home opener April 8 vs. PIT
In August, the Cubs will visit Historic Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pa., home of the Little League World Series, to face the host Pirates in the third-annual Little League Classic presented by GEICO. Players from both teams will attend the Little League World Series games earlier in the day, and players, coaches and families of the 2019 LLWS teams as well as local youth baseball and softball organizations will occupy much of the crowd for the evening's NL Central contest. Cubs schedule >
Pirates
Key series: Aug. 18 vs. CHC
Opening Day: March 28 at CIN
Home opener: April 1 vs. STL
The Pirates will host the Cubs in the third annual Little League Classic presented by GEICO at Historic Bowman Field, located about 200 miles east of PNC Park. This will be the Bucs' second appearance in the Little League Classic; they won the inaugural contest against the Cardinals in 2016. Pirates schedule >
Reds
Key series: July 6-7 vs. CLE
Opening Day: March 28 vs. PIT
The annual Ohio Cup will resume in June, when the Reds visit Progressive Field, but will return to Great American Ball Park the following month, as Cincinnati looks to turn around this season's 2-4 mark against Cleveland. Reds schedule >
NL WEST
D-backs
Key series: April 5-7 vs. BOS
Opening Day: March 28 at LAD
Home opener: April 5 vs. BOS
Fans in Arizona will have a rare opportunity to watch the Red Sox take on the D-backs in the home opener. The Red Sox will be there for just the second time. The first time was in 2007, when the Red Sox took two of three from the D-backs. The 2019 home opener will also feature the return of J.D. Martinez to Chase Field. D-backs schedule >
Dodgers
Key series: Aug. 23-25 vs. NYY
Opening Day: March 28 vs. ARI
In addition to the annual Jackie Robinson Day celebration at Dodger Stadium on April 15, a matchup between two of baseball's most storied franchises in August should be circled on Los Angeles fans' calendars, with the Yankees playing at Dodger Stadium for the first time since 2013. Since the Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 1958, the Yankees have played eight regular-season games and 11 World Series games against them in Los Angeles. The Bronx Bombers were once frequent visitors to Chavez Ravine, however, playing 36 games against the Angels when the two L.A. teams shared a ballpark from '62-65. Dodgers schedule >
Giants
Key series: June 29 vs. ARI
Opening Day: March 28 at SD
Home opener: April 5 vs. TB
Giants fans will get a double helping of baseball on June 29 with a scheduled split doubleheader at home against the division-rival D-backs. It'll be only the second opportunity to catch two games in the same day at AT&T Park since 2006. The Dodgers and Giants played two in San Francisco on April 28 this season. Giants schedule >
Padres
Key series: Aug. 23-25 vs. BOS
Opening Day: March 28 vs. SF
The Padres will host the Red Sox for the third time since Interleague Play began in 1997, and for the first time since Sept. 5-7, 2016, when Boston took two out of three at Petco Park. Padres schedule >
Rockies
Key series: Aug. 27-28 vs. BOS
Opening Day: March 28 at MIA
Home opener: April 5 vs. LAD
The Red Sox will visit Coors Field for just the second time since they were crowned World Series champions there in 2007, the other occurring in '13. In the regular season, the Rockies own a 5-3 edge in the eight games played between these clubs in Denver. Rockies schedule >