BOSTON -- For the first time since 2010, the Red Sox will give their fans the thrill of opening at Fenway Park next season, it was announced on Wednesday.
The Pirates will be the opponents in Boston on April 3 in their first visit to Boston since 2005.
However, the Red Sox won't have their suitcases unpacked for long. After the opening series against the Pirates, the Six will travel to Detroit for a one-city, four-game road trip that starts on April 7.
• Red Sox's 2017 regular-season schedule
The end of April features one of the most anticipated homestands of the season. Not only do the Yankees come in for the first rivalry matchup from April 25-27, but the Cubs are in town immediately following for a three-game weekend series. The 10-game homestand wraps up with a four-game, American League East showdown against the Orioles.
Believe it or not, Boston has not traveled to Milwaukee since 2003. That will change next May 9, when the Red Sox and Brewers start a three-game series at Miller Park.
The Red Sox and Cardinals, two of baseball's most tradition-laden franchises, will renew acquaintances. They will play two games in St. Louis on May 16-17 and at Fenway Park Aug. 15-16. The clubs have played against each other in the World Series four times, most recently in 2013.
There will be a four-game, home-and-home series against the Phillies that starts on May 12 in Boston and continues in Philly on May 14.
While the Red Sox play their first home opponent against a National League foe, the same thing can be said about their final road series, which will be in Cincinnati from Sept. 22-24.
Boston's first trip to Yankee Stadium won't be until June 6, for the start of a three-game series. But the second and third trips to the Bronx will be bunched up on Aug. 11-13 and Sept. 1-3. The Yankees come to Boston right after the All-Star break from July 14-17, and for the final time from Aug. 18-20.
Now that the Red Sox-Blue Jays rivalry seems to be ratcheting up, it is worth noting that the clubs play their first series in Toronto from April 18-20. The Jays won't be in Boston until July 17, when they come in for a four-game set.
While much was made about the Red Sox having a road-dominant schedule for the stretch run this season, that won't be the case in 2017. Sixteen of the last 28 games will be at Fenway, culminating with a seven-game homestand against the Blue Jays and Astros.
Game times for the 2017 season, as well as the 2017 Spring Training schedule, will be finalized and announced at a later date. All dates included in the schedule are subject to change.