O's open 2020 season March 26 vs. Yanks
Joe Trezza
NEW YORK -- Five holiday home games, visits to the Cubs and Cardinals, a special trip to Williamsport, Pa., and one big anniversary highlight the Orioles’ 2020 schedule, released Monday by the club and Major League Baseball.
It figures to be a unique year, with ample opportunity for Baltimore to honor its past and also take steps forward. Here are some key dates to look forward to in 2020:
Date: March 26
Opponent: Yankees
The Orioles will spend more time at home in April than in any other month, beginning by hosting Opening Day for the fourth time in five years. The Orioles will open their season March 26 against the Yankees at Camden Yards; 10 of their first 13 games come against American League East clubs. They will also get their Interleague schedule started in April, with eight of their first 18 games coming against National League Central teams.
Their home portion of Interleague Play begins with a three-game set against the Pirates from April 10-12. The road portion begins the weekend before, when the Orioles travel to St. Louis (April 2, 4-5) for the first time since 2003.
Date: April 14-15
Opponent: Cubs
Immediately afterward, the Orioles welcome the Cubs to Baltimore for just the third time. The mid-week two-game set (April 14-15) is bound to be a reunion for manager Brandon Hyde, who spent nearly seven years with Chicago before taking the reins in Baltimore. It will mark Hyde’s first games managing against his former club; two more are set for June 2-3 at Wrigley Field.
Date: Aug. 8-9
Opponent: Nationals
The annual Battle of the Beltways returns to Oriole Park in 2020, this time via a two-game weekend slate set for Aug. 8-9. The Orioles and Nationals also face off Sept. 15-16 at Nationals Park.
Date: Aug. 23
Opponent: Red Sox
The fourth iteration of the MLB Little League Classic presented by GEICO will take place at historic Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pa., and it will serve as a home game for the Orioles and air nationally on “Sunday Night Baseball.” Players from both clubs will attend Little League Baseball World Series games earlier in the day to demonstrate their commitment to helping grow the game at the youth levels.
“Participating in next year’s Little League Classic is a tremendous honor for our club,” said executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias. “Our entire organization is deeply committed to growing the game at all levels, and to celebrating the invaluable life lessons learned through youth baseball. As a Little League Baseball alumnus myself, I look forward to visiting Williamsport as we come together to share the game of baseball with the next generation.”
Date: Sept. 6
Opponent: Yankees
Can you believe a quarter century has passed? In 2020, it will have been 25 years since Cal Ripken Jr. played his 2,131st consecutive game on that historic night in 1995 at Oriole Park, surpassing Lou Gehrig’s unsurpassable record. The Orioles are home for the anniversary and, poetically, will face the Yankees.