2013 Pirates

 The 2012 Pirates season is not over, but everyone is already looking ahead to the 2013 season.  The Pirates played a promising season this year with improvements in every aspect of the game.  This just builds the anticipation for next year's season.  The Pirates are traveling a lot next season with several games out west.  There will be challenges, but with a whole year to prepare the Pirates will be ready.  Let's go Bucs!

The Pirates released their 2013 schedule Wednesday with highlights that include an opening series at home against the Cubs, a July 4 home matchup with the Phillies and interleague opponents including the Mariners, Athletics and Tigers visiting PNC Park.

The schedule also features an interleague series in September for the first time, with the Pirates traveling to Texas to play the Rangers from Sept. 9-11.

The first nine home games of the season will be against NL Central opponents, with the Reds and Cardinals coming to PNC Park following the Pirates’ first road trip to Los Angeles and Arizona.

The beginning of May will bring the Nationals and Mariners to Pittsburgh for a five-game homestand.

It will be Seattle’s first trip to PNC Park since 2004. The Athletics will come to town in July.

At the end of May, the Pirates will host two games of a four-game home-and-home series against the Tigers. They also travel to Los Angeles to play the Angels in June.

The Pirates’ final homestand includes series against the Cubs, Padres and Reds before they close the season on the road at Chicago and Cincinnati.

Next season will be the first time that the National and American leagues will have 15 teams, thanks to the Astros’ move to the AL West. As a result, interleague play will last throughout the season, with each club playing 20 games.

“I like the fact that we’re playing our division rivals an even number of times,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.

“I got (the schedule) a few days ago and looked it over. There are some different challenges. We go west a few more times. I do like equal number of games within the division.”

For more information see The Tribune.