Baltimore Orioles 2015 Schedule – Good for a Championship Defense

Jul 9, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth (right) scores a run as Baltimore Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph (left) does not get the throw in time in the first inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

The 2015 schedule for the Baltimore Orioles was released on Monday, and as always it provides some interesting details and a mix of good things and challenges.

Here are some highlights (and lowlights) …

How the season opens – If you have to open the season on the road, to do so just up the road from Sarasota with the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg is a pretty good draw. The Orioles will play there from September 6-8 in a three-game series. After a day off, the O’s will open at home on Friday, September 10^th against the Blue Jays. The Yankees will follow immediately.

How the season closes – The season will end a bit later in 2015, having also started later. There will be four regular season games in October. The Orioles’ regular season will end with a seven-game homestand of four with the Jays and the final three with the Yankees.

National League Opponents – The inter-league play will feature the NL East. A total of six games will be against the Nationals – three at home in April, and then three in Washington in late September! Oriole pitchers hitting on September 21-23!

Also featured with be a four-game series with the Phillies on June 15-18 – the first two in Baltimore, with the final two in Philly. This should be interesting. I remember games with the Phillies a few years ago generating a lot of energy.

On May 5^th through 10^th the Orioles will also play two games against the Mets in New York, followed immediately by four consecutive contests with the Yankees. The Mets come to town for a pair of games in mid-August.

The Atlanta Braves will be at Camden Yards for a Monday-Wednesday series on July 27^th to 29^th, while the Birds will play three in Miami at the end of May.

West Coast – Fortunately there is only one trip out west. It will start in Oakland for three games on August 3^rd, with a day off before going to LA for three and finishing with three in Seattle.

Long Trips and Stands – The longest road trip is a 10-game stretch over 11 days just prior to the final seven home games at the end of the year. This trip will have four with Tampa Bay, three with Washington, and three at Boston. The O’s might want to have a nice lead in the AL East before that happens.