The Texas Rangers will open the 2013 season in Houston against the Astros.
The game will mark the first time the Rangers have opened the season on the road since 2008. But it's significant for another reason. In case you missed it ... the Astros will become the fifth team in the American League West next season in a somewhat controversial move from the National League -- so this will mark the beginning of a new era in Texas baseball.
They'll play a three-game series at Minute Maid Park for the first of their 19 meetings with the Astros.
The Rangers home opener will take place on Friday, April 5, vs. the Los Angeles Angels.
Here is more from the Rangers:
In addition to Houston, Texas will play 19 times each versus Los Angeles, Oakland, and Seattle. With the Astros moving to the American League, the Rangers “prime” rival in 2013 will be the Arizona Diamondbacks. The two games between the Rangers and Diamondbacks at Chase Field will be played as a day-night doubleheader on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27. It marks the first time that the Rangers have had a doubleheader on their season-opening schedule since 1991, August 16 at Cleveland. Texas and Arizona will then play a pair of games in Arlington on Wednesday and Thursday, May 29-30.
The remainder of the Rangers Interleague play in 2013 features home series with the Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, and Pittsburgh Pirates and series on the road with the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, and the Brewers. Texas and Milwaukee will play home and home two-game series while the other Interleague four meetings will be three-game sets.
The remainder of the 2013 schedule will be released at a later date.
