Nationals release 2016 Grapefruit League schedule

There are many looking forward to tonight's expected announcement of Bryce Harper as National League Most Valuable Player to wash away some of the disappointments from last season.

With a just few short hours before that honor is revealed, the Nationals allowed fans to look to the promise of 2016 with the release of their 29-game spring training schedule.

The Nats will open Grapefruit League play on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Park in Port Charlotte, Fla., on March 2. It will be the Nats' first game at the Rays facility in team history.

The NL East champion Mets travel to Space Coast Stadium in Viera the following day.

The Nationals will play 14 home games, facing the Tigers, Marlins, Astros, Braves, Yankees and Mets in March.

From March 10-14, the Nationals will play four home games in five days, meeting the Astros (March 10 and 14), Mets (March 11) and Cardinals (March 13) at Space Coast Stadium.

This could be the Nationals' final spring in Viera. Last week, ground was broken on a new complex in West Palm Beach that they will share with the Astros, who will move from Kissimmee. Barring any construction delays, the teams hope to have the new facility ready for spring training in 2017.

Here is the complete schedule:

* March 2 - at Rays in Port Charlotte
* March 3 - vs. Mets
* March 4 - at Marlins in Jupiter
* March 5 - vs. Tigers
* March 6 - at Cardinals in Jupiter
* March 7 - vs. Marlins
* March 8 - at Astros in Kissimmee
* March 9 - at Tigers in Lakeland
* March 10 - vs. Astros
* March 11 - vs. Mets
* March 12 - at Braves in Lake Buena Vista
* March 13 - vs. Cardinals
* March 14 - vs. Astros
* March 15 - at Astros in Kissimmee
* March 16 - at Marlins in Jupiter
* March 17 - vs. Braves
* March 18 - at Mets in Port St. Lucie
* March 19 - vs. Mets
* March 20 - at Tigers in Lakeland
* March 21 - vs. Astros
* March 22 - Off-day
* March 23 - vs. Yankees
* March 24 - vs. Cardinals
* March 25 - at Marlins in Jupiter
* March 26 - at Cardinals in Jupiter
* March 27 - vs. Braves; at Mets in Port St. Lucie
* March 28 - vs. Marlins
* March 29 - vs. Cardinals in Jupiter
* March 30 - vs. Mets in Port St. Lucie
* March 31 - Off-day