Cubs to open 2016 slate on West Coast

ST. LOUIS -- The Cubs will open the 2016 season with an Interleague series for the first time, facing the Angels in Anaheim on April 5, and kick off the home portion of the schedule April 11 against the Reds.

The 2016 season will mark the 11th time the Cubs open on the road in the past 15 seasons, and the first time in California since 1984 when they began the campaign in San Francisco. That was good news for Cubs manager Joe Maddon, who grew up in the Angels' organization.

• Tentative 2016 Cubs schedule

The tentative 2016 schedule does not list start times for Friday home games. Maddon said he talked to the Cubs front office about possibly keeping them at 1:20 p.m. CT rather than 3:05 p.m. CT.

"That was part of the conversation about what can and cannot be done," Maddon said Tuesday. "The thing I talked about with them is to have consistent start times so the players could have a regular routine. That was the request."

Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said he understands Maddon's point of view, but there are business elements to consider.

"I think inconsistent game times is something players and managers and coaches complain about, and rightfully so," Hoyer said. "Everyone wants to be on a normal schedule and know what to expect. That sentiment has been given to the appropriate people and we'll see if we can get some of those changed."

After two road games against the Angels, the Cubs will play four games against the D-backs in Arizona on April 7-10. The Cubs begin the Wrigley Field slate playing host to the Reds on April 11 and April 13-14, and the Rockies, April 15-17.

The 2016 schedule features Interleague Play against the American League West as well as the annual home-and-home crosstown series against the White Sox. The Cubs will play at U.S. Cellular Field on July 25-26, and play host to the White Sox at Wrigley Field on July 27-28.

The Cubs' Interleague schedule includes home games against the Rangers on July 15-17; the Mariners on July 29-31; and the Angels on Aug. 9-10. Besides the two-game series in Anaheim, the Cubs will play at Oakland on Aug. 5-7; and at Houston on Sept. 9-11. The season-opening series against the Angels is the only Interleague series prior to the All-Star break.

The Cubs are scheduled to host games on Mother's Day, May 8 vs. the Nationals; Memorial Day, May 30 vs. the Dodgers; Father's Day, June 19 vs. the Pirates; and the Fourth of July vs. the Reds.