Padres open at home, play AL Central in 2014

PHILADELPHIA -- The 2014 schedule was released on Tuesday and the Padres will open the season at home against the Dodgers on March 31 and welcome the Tigers, Royals, Twins and Mariners to Petco Park as part of their Interleague schedule.

The team will play a three-game series at Petco Park before heading on the road for six games, three in Miami against the Marlins (April 4-6) and then to Cleveland to face the Indians (April 7-9).

In all, the Padres will play 16 of their first 29 games on the road next season.

The Padres will make Interleague trips to face the White Sox (May 30-June 1), Mariners (June 16-17) and Twins (Aug. 5-6).

The Padres haven't played the White Sox in Chicago since 2003. They played the Twins at Target Field in 2011 and, of course, have had a home-and-home with the Mariners, their Interleague rivals, for several years.

The Tigers head to Petco Park early, playing three games there from April 11-13 as part of a 10-game homestand that will also includes visits from the Rockies and Giants.

The Tigers last visited Petco Park in 2008, taking two of three games.

In terms of their other home Interleague series, the Twins swept a three-game series at Petco Park in 2008. The Royals have twice played at Petco Park (2004 and 2011).

The Padres will have another 10-game homestand May 2-11 (D-backs, Royals and Marlins), a nine-game homestand June 27-July 6 (D-backs, Reds and Giants) and 10 more from Aug. 25-Sept. 4 (Brewers, Dodgers and D-backs).

Other schedule highlights include a home game on Mother's Day on May 11 against the Marlins and a game at home July 4 against the Giants.

The Padres finish the first half of the season on the road against the Dodgers but open the second half at Petco Park with three games against the Mets (July 18-20).

As they will this season, the Padres will finish the 2014 regular season on the road at AT&T Park in San Francisco with a four-game series (Sept. 25-28).