Nationals announce 2013 schedule

The Washington Nationals today released their 2013 schedule, which includes 81 home dates, beginning with Washington's 80th home opener since 1901 on Monday, April 1 vs. Miami and is highlighted by an attractive slate of weekend visits from the Braves, Cubs, Dodgers, Mets, Phillies and Twins. The annual Battle of the Beltways Series between the Nationals and Orioles continues for an eighth consecutive season with each club hosting a pair of contests over a four-game span, May 27-30. The two neighbors square off for the first time during a Memorial Day contest at Nationals Park. After two tilts in The District, the four-game series shifts north, where Oriole Park will serve as the backdrop for the series' final two matchups. Major League Baseball's modified interleague formula--necessitated by the Astros move to the American League West--calls for two additional contests, 20 in all, against AL teams. The White Sox (three games, April 9-11), Tigers (two, May 7-8) and Twins (three, June 7-9) will visit Nationals Park in 2013. The Twins, whose lineage began in Washington as the original Senators, return to the Nation's Capital for the first time since 1971. Washington, in addition to the two games in Baltimore, will make additional interleague visits to Cleveland, Detroit and Kansas City. Nationals fans will enjoy 12 homestands in all, only three of which last longer than seven games. Nationals Park will twice host 10 games in 10 days: July 19-28 (Dodgers, Pirates, Mets) and September 13-22 (Phillies, Braves, Marlins). The Nationals will also play nine home games during an 11-day stay in Washington from August 5-15 (Braves, Phillies, Giants). Washington's '13 home schedule features the following holiday home games: Mother's Day (Sunday, May 12 vs. Cubs), Memorial Day (Monday, May 27 vs. Orioles) and Independence Day (Thursday, July 4 vs. Brewers). Local baseball fans will notice a distinct concentration of home dates from June 1-July 28. In that five-plus week span, the Nationals will play 24 of 34 games within the comfy confines of Nationals Park. As the '13 calendar flips to September, 16 of the Nationals' final 26 contests will take place on the road. July (17 games) and April (16) contain the most home games in a calendar month, while May has the fewest (10). Washington's 2013 regular season concludes in Phoenix on Sunday, September 29 with a tilt against the Diamondbacks All dates and opponents on this schedule are subject to change. . Game times will be released at a later date. Nationals fans who place a 25% deposit on a new 2013 full season ticket plan by September 15 can receive 2012 postseason ticket purchase priority. The team will also offer the "Buy 2 Get 2" season ticket promotion for a limited time, subject to availability. For more information on these offers as well as full season, half season and partial season plans, visit nationals.com/2013 or call 202.675.NATS(6287).