White Sox to open 2014 at home against Twins

CHICAGO -- The 2013 season still has 19 games remaining for the White Sox. But in reality, they have been focusing on 2014 since somewhere around the All-Star break.

There are now opponents and dates to look forward to, with the '14 schedule released on Tuesday.

Minnesota stands as the home opener and season opener for the White Sox, with the Twins visiting U.S. Cellular Field on March 31, April 2 and 3. The South Siders then embark on a road trip that includes stops in Kansas City from April 4-6 and their first Interleague series in Colorado from April 7-9.

Interleague home games feature Arizona (May 9-11), San Francisco (June 17-18), and the Padres (May 30-June 1). Their road Interleague schedule besides the Rockies takes the White Sox to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers from June 2-4.

Then, there's the matchups with the Cubs, who swept all four from the White Sox this season. The home-and-home four-game set begins with two games at Wrigley Field on May 5 and 6, followed by two games at U.S. Cellular on May 7-8.

In a strange '13 scheduling quirk, the White Sox and Tigers didn't meet until July 9 at Comerica Park. The two teams won't wait that long next season, with the White Sox going to Detroit from April 21-24 and the Tigers visiting Chicago for two games beginning April 29.

Jake Peavy and the Red Sox come to Chicago from April 15-17, while the White Sox go to Fenway Park from July 7-10. The Yankees pay Chicago a visit from May 22-25, followed by the Indians (May 26-28) and the Padres, and the White Sox go to Yankee Stadium from Aug. 22-24.

This season was long out of reach by the team the calendar turned to September, which made 15 home games out of the White Sox final 20 games pretty much a moot point. The White Sox have 11 home games next September against Oakland (8-11), the Twins (12-14) and then finish things off with the Royals from the 25-28.

It's the plan of general manager Rick Hahn and the White Sox that they will have something significant to play for by the time that last month rolls around.

"There's no doubt in my mind," said White Sox designated hitter Adam Dunn, who will be in the final year of a four-year deal in '14. "We know we have the talent obviously. We've got the pitching.

"We just need to figure it out offensively what the problem is. Is it that 10 or 12 guys had some down years or is it some guys don't have anything left or is that we are just not very good? Maybe I'm in loser denial. We'll worry about next year when next year happens, but I'm definitely not thinking this is going to happen again."