The Phillies today announced their schedule for the 2015 Major League Baseball season along with other teams in the Majors, with some exciting fixtures due up.
Philadelphia begins with a home stand against the Boston Red Sox and Washington Nationals as the Phils get a taste of inter-league play in the opening series for the second season running, as well as a division rival to follow.
Jackie Robinson Day features a rivalry as the Phillies head to Citi Field to face the New York Mets, with the Fightins’ playing all but 7 out of the opening 23 games against teams in the NL East.
The Pittsburgh Pirates will be welcomed to Citizens Bank Park to continue the Battle of Pennsylvania festivities with a four game set beginning Monday 11th May. The Phillies will also play 7 games against the Colorado Rockies in the month of May, with a four game set at Coors Field beginning on the 18th followed up by a three game home series beginning on the 29th.
June produces some interesting fixtures, with Philly facing the Reds in two of the first three series, a home and road series either side of a set at CB Park against the Giants. The Baltimore Orioles will be the Phillies opponent in a two-road-two-home set beginning the 15th, and Yankee Stadium awaits as Philadelphia travels to New York for a three game series starting on June 22nd.
Independence day is marked by the rather underwhelming fixture of having the Atlanta Braves on the road. A tough stretch awaits starting the 6th of July when the Phillies face the Dodgers and Giants in a total of 7 games, with 4 against Los Angeles to open up. The Tampa Bay Rays will be welcomes for a series on the 20th, and the Phils will face the Blue Jays on the road for a quick two game set on the 28th and 29th.
A rather dull August is highlighted by two home games against the Toronto Blue Jays beginning the 18th, while the Mets come for a four game series starting on the 24th.
The Phillies will get to visit Fenway Park for three games on the 4th, 5th and 6th August, that following a three game set against the Mets which begins on the 31st August. Philadelphia ends the season by playing home series against the Mets and Miami Marlins, the regular season ending at the unusually late date of October 4th.
The highlights of 2015 include lots of appetising inter-league games (against the AL East), while a tough first month with games against the Red Sox, Nationals, Braves, Mets and Cardinals means it will be interesting to see just how Philadelphia does.
September yields plenty of winnable series, such as the Chicago Cubs, Miami Marlins (twice) and the Mets, meaning if they are still in contention it could be an exciting last month.