Rematch with Dodgers highlights Astros' sked
Brian McTaggart
@brianmctaggartHOUSTON -- Home-and-away series against the Dodgers in a 2017 World Series rematch highlights the Astros’ 2020 regular-season schedule, which will begin on July 24 at Minute Maid Park against the Mariners at 8:10 p.m. CT on MLB Network.
The Astros, the defending American League champions who beat the Dodgers in seven games to win the 2017 World Series, will begin the season with six games at home -- four against the Mariners (July 24-27) and two against the Dodgers (July 28-29). They will play at Dodger Stadium on Sept. 12-13.
The 2020 regular season, which has been delayed four months because of the coronavirus pandemic, will see the Astros play 40 games against AL West opponents and 20 games against National League West opponents. Houston will finish the regular season with a seven-game road trip to Seattle and Texas, with the Rangers playing host to the Astros at brand-new Globe Life Park from Sept. 24-27 to end the season.
The Astros won’t play the Rangers until September, but in that month, they will play Texas 10 times, including Sept. 1-3 and Sept. 15-17 in Houston. The trip to Globe Life Field to end the season will be Houston’s only trip to Arlington.
The Astros are scheduled to appear on national TV broadcasts four times, in addition to Opening Day: July 29 vs. the Dodgers (6:10 p.m. CT, ESPN), Aug. 1 at the Angels (6:15 p.m. CT, FOX), Aug. 6 at the D-backs (6:15 p.m. CT, FOX) and Sept. 12 at the Dodgers (7:15 p.m. CT, FOX).
The Astros' longest homestand of the season is eight games in nine days in August when the Giants (Aug. 10-12), Mariners (Aug. 14-16) and Rockies (Aug. 17-18) come to town. There are two nine-game road trips, one in August and one in September.
The Astros, who won a club-record and MLB-best 107 games in 2019, are looking to win their fourth consecutive AL West title in 2020. Houston has never won four straight division titles or qualified for the postseason in four consecutive seasons.