Twins will open 2016 against Orioles on road
Minnesota scheduled to face NL East clubs in Interleague matchups
KANSAS CITY -- The Twins will open the 2016 season on the road for the sixth time in seven years, according to the tentative 2016 Major League Baseball schedule, which was released Tuesday.
The Twins start the year in Baltimore for a three-game series that begins on April 4 before heading to Kansas City for a three-game set on April 8. The home opener at Target Field is scheduled for April 11 against the White Sox.
• Tentative 2016 Twins schedule
"I looked at it today for the first time," manager Paul Molitor said. "But I didn't break it down month by month. I was kind of curious about where we were going to open and where Interleague is going to take you. All those kinds of things."
Minnesota opens its Interleague schedule against the rival Milwaukee Brewers with a two-game series at Target Field from April 18-19 before heading to Miller Park for two games from April 20-21.
The Twins will play 20 Interleague games during the season with seven in April, six in June, two in July, two in August and three in September. In addition to their games against the Brewers, they host the Marlins (June 7-9), the Phillies (June 21-23) and the Braves (July 26-27). They also head to Washington (April 22-24), Atlanta (Aug. 16-17) and to New York to face the Mets (Sept. 16-18).
• 2016 season ticket information
The Twins have a stretch of several home games in the middle of their season, as they have 46 at Target Field between Memorial Day (May 30) and Labor Day (Sept. 5). They're home for a stretch of 17 out of 20 games in June, but have a tough schedule in August, as they have a stretch of 11 out of 14 games on the road. But one scheduling quirk is the Twins don't have a three-city trip all season, as their longest road trip is seven games.
The Twins will also play each of their American League Central Division rivals 19 times: the White Sox (10 home/9 away), the Royals (9 home/10 away), the Tigers (9 home/10 away) and the Indians (9 home/10 away).
Other highlights include a weekend series against the Red Sox (June 10-12), a weekend series against the Yankees ending on Father's Day (June 16-19), an Independence Day game against the A's (July 4) and a Labor Day game against the Royals (Sept. 5).
The complete tentative schedule can be seen on twins.com. The final schedule, including all start times, will be released by MLB in January.