Next year's schedule
Although the Dodgers' 2009 regular-season schedule remains tentative and isn't close to being released, the Daily News learned this week that the club will play an 18-game interleague schedule that will consist mostly of American League West opponents.
In addition to their usual, home-and-home with the Angels -- the two clubs will play three-game series at Dodger Stadium May 22-24 and at Angel Stadium June 19-21 -- the Dodgers will host three-game series against the Oakland A's June 16-18 and the Seattle Mariners June 26-28.
The Dodgers also will play at Texas June 12-14. There will be an additional interleague series at Chicago June 26-28, which the White Sox almost certainly will use as an opportunity to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the two clubs meeting in the 1959 World Series.
The Dodgers won that series in six games.
The Dodgers are slated to begin the season by playing 14 consecutive games without a day off. They open on the road, with a four-game series at San Diego starting on April 6 followed by a three-game series at Arizona starting on April 10.
For the second consecutive season, San Francisco is the opponent for the home opener, scheduled for April 13. That begins a three-game series, with Colorado then coming in for a four-game set beginning on April 16. The season also will conclude at home against the Rockies, a three-game series Oct. 2-4.
The Dodgers will finish the first half in Milwaukee, meaning an easy flight to St. Louis for any Dodgers players selected to the National League All-Star team. The second half will begin back in Los Angeles with a four-game series against Houston, marking the first time in three years that the Dodgers will get a break of only three days instead of four.
So, in other words, the season begins late (began 3/31 this year) and ends late (ends 9/28 this year). Playoffs and World Series could hit some cool (cold) weather in northern cities. Any reason(s) give for the late start?
no reason given, but it's obviously because if they didn't do that, the season would begin on March 30. They don't usually let it stretch too far into March. It actually started (and will end) EXTREMELY early this year.
Hi Tony, you posted June 26, 27, 28 playing the Mariners and White Sox. What are the correct dates and teams ? Also, when do we play the Cubs ? Thanks Tony! great blog :)
dodgerfan, good catch. The White Sox series in June 23-25. the Seattle series the 26-28. And not sure about the Cubs. I wasn't given the ENTIRE schedule, just the notable series. But you can bet it will be one series at home, one series on the road. Dodgers had an extra series at the Reds this year, but that was because they played only five interleague series. Next year, they play six.