Nats announce 2015 schedule

The Nationals released their 2015 schedule this afternoon, and it will begin and end with the Mets. The Nats start 2015 at home on Monday, April 6 against the Mets and end it on Oct. 4 at Citi Field in New York. Washington opens the season by playing National League East foes in 26 of its first 32 contests through May 10, before finishing the year with 26 of its final 29 games against division foes from Sept. 3 to Oct. 4. While 29 of next season's first 50 contests will be played on the road, the Nats will play 26 games at home from Aug. 21 to Sept. 27 before finishing the year with six road games. The annual Battle of the Beltways series between the Nationals and Orioles has an interesting twist this year, as not only will the two teams go back to each hosting a three-game set, but the one at Nats Park will be held from Sept. 21-23, right in the thick of a possible pennant race. It will be the Nats' second-last series at home in 2015 and will be the latest the teams have played in the 11 seasons since baseball returned to Washington. The Nationals will take on the American League East for 20 interleague contests in 2015. Washington's home interleague schedule includes visits from the Yankees (two games, May 19-20), the Blue Jays (three games, June 1-3), the Rays (two games, June 17-18) and the Orioles (three games, Sept. 21-23). The Yankees' visit to D.C. will be their first since sweeping a three-game set at Nationals Park from June 15-17, 2012. Washington will make interleague road stops in Boston (three games), New York (two), Tampa Bay (two) and Baltimore (three games, July 10-12). The 2015 home schedule features the following holiday games: Mother's Day (Sunday, May 10 vs. Braves), Father's Day (Sunday, June 21 vs. Pirates), Independence Day (Saturday, July 4 vs. Giants) and Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 7 vs. Mets). Of the Nationals' 12 homestands, only one lasts at least 10 games. Nationals Park will host 10 contests in 11 days to close out the home slate from September 17-27 (Marlins, Orioles, Phillies). Here's the full schedule: April 6, 8-9 vs. Mets 8-9 vs. Mets 10-12 at Phillies 13-15 at Red Sox 16-19 vs. Phillies 21-23 vs. Cardinals 24-26 at Marlins 27-29 at Braves 30 at Mets May 1-3 at Mets 4-6 vs. Marlins 8-10 vs. Braves 11-13 at Diamondbacks 14-17 at Padres 19-20 vs. Yankees 22-24 vs. Phillies 25-27 at Cubs 29-31 at Reds June 1-3 vs. Blue Jays 4-7 vs. Cubs 9-10 at Yankees 11-14 at Brewers 15-16 at Rays 17-18 vs. Rays 19-21 vs. Pirates 23-25 vs. Braves 26-28 at Phillies 30 at Braves July 1-2 at Braves 3-5 vs. Giants 6-8 vs. Reds 10-12 at Orioles 17-19 vs. Dodgers 20-22 vs. Mets 23-26 at Pirates 28-30 at Marlins 31 at Mets August 1-2 at Mets 3-6 vs. Diamondbacks 7-9 vs. Rockies 10-12 at Dodgers 13-16 at Giants 18-20 at Rockies 21-23 vs. Brewers 25-27 vs. Padres 28-30 vs. Marlins 31 at Cardinals September 1-2 at Cardinals 3-6 vs. Braves 7-9 vs. Mets 11-13 at Marlins 14-16 at Phillies 17-20 vs. Marlins 21-23 vs. Orioles 25-27 vs. Phillies 29-30 at Braves October 1 at Braves 2-4 at Mets