The Pirates will spend opening day on the road again. Major League Baseball released its full schedule for 2019 on Wednesday, and the Pirates will open with the Reds in Cincinnati on Thursday, March 28, before hosting the Cardinals for the opener at PNC Park on April 1.
It's the 30th time the Pirates will open with the Reds, and the three-game series will be followed by a five-game homestand, beginning with two against the Cardinals. First pitch for the home opener is set for 1:05 p.m. Also, commissioner Rob Manfred announced Sunday that the Pirates will play the Cubs in the 2019 Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pa., Aug. 20.
They'll also face the American League West in interleague play, with trips to Texas (April 30-May 1), Houston (June 25-27) and to the Angels (Aug. 12-14). Gerrit Cole won't be returning to PNC Park, though, as the Astros do not travel to Pittsburgh.
The Pirates will have a seven-game homestand against the Cubs and Brewers leading up to the All-Star break, and it will be the first time since 1980 that they host the Cubs on July 4. Cleveland will hold All-Star Game festivities from July 8-10, and the Pirates will finish the season with a six-game homestand against the Cubs and Reds.
Other notable home series include: the Athletics (May 3-5), Rangers (May 7-8), Dodgers (May 24-26), Tigers (June 18-19), Phillies (July 19-21), Mets (Aug. 2-4), Nationals (Aug. 19-22) and Mariners (Sept. 17-19).