Early Impressions of A's 2013 Schedule

Today MLB released the 2013 schedule, this was the first look at how the realignment of the leagues will affect the on field agenda. The Houston Astros will leave the NL Central and join the AL West, the move will put 15 teams in each division and necessitate at least one interleague matchup whenever there is a full slate of games.

One of the new wrinkles in the schedules has geographical rivals, like the A’s and Giants, slated to play just 4 games against each other instead of the usual six. The A’s head to San Francisco on May 28-29, and then the Giants cross the Bay Bridge from May 30-31st. In that sense the series will be structured much more like the preseason series where the two clubs alternate stadium sites in a 3 game series just before the start of the regular season.

 This year the A’s will face the NL Central in interleague play. Oakland will host the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, and have the Cubs make their first visit to the Coliseum.  The A’s will travel to Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and to Cincinnati. That is a tough break for the Green and Gold to draw two series with the likely-to-be NL Central division champs, but I guess it all balances out when you consider Oakland will add 19 games against the Houston Astros and the worst record in baseball.

The Yankee’s and Red Sox will both make one appearance at the O.co this year. New York comes to town for a Tuesday-Thursday series from June 11-13th, while the Sox will visit over the weekend of July 12-14th.

The A’s will host the Angels and Twins for 7 games from September 16-22nd in the final homestand of the year, before hitting the road to close the season with 6 games vs. the Angels and Mariners to end the year.

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