Crew set to start 2014 with trio of Opening Days

MILWAUKEE -- Break out the bunting, because the Brewers will play a trio of Opening Days in 2014.

After beginning the season at Miller Park against the Braves on March 31-April 2, the Brewers will travel to Boston for an April 4-6 Interleague series that starts the 103rd season of Fenway Park. Then they'll move on to Philadelphia for an April 7-10 set that opens Citizens Bank Park.

All 30 teams' 162-game regular season schedules were unveiled Tuesday, and the Brewers' preliminary slate was highlighted by Opening Day and closing day at home, Interleague visits from the Yankees, Orioles and Blue Jays and Interleague trips to Boston, St. Petersburg and Toronto in addition to the usual home-and-home series against the Twins.

The Brewers' 45th Opening Day in Milwaukee is Monday, March 31 against the Braves, and the first pitch is already set for 1:10 p.m. CT.

Then it's on to Boston, where the Brewers have not been the opponent in the Red Sox's home opener since 1975, when Hank Aaron played his first game in a Brewers uniform and Fred Lynn began a season that would win him both the American League MVP and Rookie of the Year Awards.

The Brewers' other Interleague series in 2014 are at home against the Yankees on May 9-11, the Orioles on May 26-28, the Twins on June 2-3 and the Blue Jays on Aug. 19-20. They'll play at Minnesota on June 4-5, at Toronto on July 1-2 and at Tampa Bay on July 28-30.

The Brewers will be home on Memorial Day against the Orioles and on the road for Independence Day (at Cincinnati) and Labor Day (at Chicago against the Cubs).

The friendliest part of the Brewers' schedule comes in July, when the team plays 14 of 17 games at home against the Phillies, Cardinals, Reds and Mets. The only road games in that stretch are at Washington D.C. from July 18-20.

The team's final 15 games will be against National League Central opponents, including a tough, three-city trip to St. Louis, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati from Sept. 16-25 and a season-ending series against the Cubs at Miller Park from Sept. 26-28.

The Brewers are one of the few teams to already have set times for most of their first pitches at home in 2014, with the usual schedule carrying over from this season. Most day games begin at 1:10 p.m. CT, except for April and May, when mid-week day games begin at 12:10 p.m. Saturday night games begin at 6:10 p.m. CT, and all other night games are at 7:10 p.m.

The Brewers will also play a pair of exhibition games before the start of the season at Miller Park against the Kansas City Royals. The two teams will meet Friday, March 28 at 7:10 p.m. CT and Saturday, March 29 at 1:10 p.m.