Yanks open 2014 in Houston, conclude at Fenway
Road schedule includes Wrigley-U.S. Cellular trip to Chicago in May
BALTIMORE -- The Yankees will play their first game of the 2014 season on the same diamond where this year's schedule ends, and their next campaign could conclude with a series of meaningful showdowns at Fenway Park.
The Bombers have been scheduled to open the 2014 regular season on Tuesday, April 1, with a three-game series against the Astros in Houston, the same city where New York is scheduled to play its 162nd game of 2013 later this month.
They'll be required to pack their passports after Spring Training, also visiting the Blue Jays in Toronto before Yankee Stadium's home opener on Monday, April 7, against the Orioles, who will be in town for a three-game series.
The homestand also includes the kickoff of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry with a four-game series on April 10-13, followed by an Interleague visit by the Cubs on April 15-16. The Cubs were the Yankees' first unofficial opponents at the new Stadium in 2009 for a pair of preseason exhibitions.
Chicago's visit is a precursor for the Yankees' six-day trip to the Windy City in May, when they'll make an unprecedented two-series visit. New York will play the Cubs at Wrigley Field on May 20-21, then roll to the South Side for a four-game series against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field from May 22-25.
There are four Subway Series games against the Mets, continuing in the rapid-fire home-and-home fashion that debuted in 2013. The Mets come to Yankee Stadium on May 12-13, and the Yankees head to Citi Field on May 14-15.
Interleague action also sees the Yankees host the Pirates from May 16-18 and welcome the Reds to New York from July 18-20. The Yankees have been scheduled for a visit to play the Brewers in Milwaukee on May 9-11 and the Cardinals in St. Louis from May 26-28.
As always, the meetings between the Yankees and the Red Sox should garner plenty of attention.
The Yankees make their first trip to Fenway Park for a midweek series from April 22-24, then do not return to Boston until Aug. 1-3. The Red Sox also come to New York for a pair of three-game series, to be played on June 27-29 and Sept. 2-4.
New York's 81-game home schedule concludes with three games against the Orioles on Sept. 23-25. The Yankees and Red Sox are then scheduled to conclude their respective regular seasons with three games in Boston from Sept. 26-28.