Tribe set for Interleague vs. NL West in 2014
Trips to Bay Area for series with Giants, A's also on next year's schedule
CLEVELAND -- The Indians are currently in a fight for a spot in the postseason. This is the position they had hoped to be in this season and it is the kind of meaningful finish the franchise hopes to enjoy for years to come.
Now, Tribe fans can officially start thinking ahead to next season.
On Tuesday, Major League Baseball unveiled its 2014 regular-season schedule, which has a touch of West Coast flair for the Indians. When the Tribe is not taking on its American League brethren, the club will be tasked with facing teams from the National League West as part of Interleague Play.
The Indians begin next season out West, too.
Cleveland will be in Oakland for Opening Day on March 31, when the teams engage in a three-game series by the Bay. The Indians return home to Progressive Field on April 4 for their home opener against the Twins, as part of a six-game homestand that features Minnesota and San Diego.
Before the end of April, the Indians will return to the Bay Area for a three-game Interleague series against the Giants from April 25-27. The NL West's Rockies (May 30-June 1) also come to Cleveland next season, when the Indians will also have road trips against the D-backs (June 24-25) and Dodgers (June 30-Juy 2).
Cleveland will not host its AL Central rivals from Chicago or Detroit until May 2-4 and May 19-21, respectively. The Indians will once again have a home-and-home Ohio Cup series with the Reds, with two games Aug. 4-5 in Cleveland followed by a pair on Aug. 6-7 in Cincinnati.
The Tribe's road-heavy months will be April and June with 16 travel dates apiece. On either side of next season's All-Star break, Cleveland will have a 10-game homestand (July 4-13 against the Royals, Yankees and White Sox) followed by a 10-game road trip (July 18-27 against the Tigers, Twins and Royals).
Next summer's All-Star Game is scheduled to take place on June 15 at Target Field in Minnesota.
Arguably the most daunting road trip of the Indians' 2014 slate is a 10-day trek through Texas, Kansas City and Boston from June 6-15. The Indians can take some comfort in knowing that the schedule appears to ease down the stretch. In September, they'll have 16 home games compared to 11 road contests, finishing with a six-game homestand from Sept. 22-28 against the Royals and Rays.