On Wednesday Major League Baseball released its preliminary schedule for the 2017 regular season. As happens every three years, the Dodgers – and all National League West Division teams – will play the American League Central Division teams in 2017.

The Dodgers kickoff the season on April 3, 2017 at home with a four-game series against the San Diego Padres. They then hit the road for a rather unusual six-game road trip, unusual in that they play three against the Rockies at Coors Field and then travel to Chicago for three against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. However, there is a rare off-day on Tuesday, April 11 following the series opener on Monday. The series then concludes on Wednesday, April 13, after which the Dodgers fly home for three against the Arizona Diamondbacks and two more against the Rockies before hitting the road again on Thursday, April 20.

There are few things more exciting than Opening Day at Dodger Stadium.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

The Dodgers don’t begin interleague play until Tuesday, June 13 when they play three games against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. They then conveniently take a short flight to Cincinnati for three against the Reds at Great American Ball Park before returning home for four against the New York Mets followed by three against the Rockies. They then host the Angels for two before heading down the I-5 for two more against the Angels in Anaheim to conclude the annual Freeway Series.

(Click on schedule to enlarge)

Their next interleague action occurs on July 7-9 when the Dodgers host the Kansas City Royals and then two against the Chicago White Sox on July 19-20 at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. The Dodgers then conclude interleague play in August when host the White Sox for two on August 15-16 and then travel to Detroit for three against the Tigers August 18-20 at Comerica Park.

Although the Dodgers play host to the Minnesota Twins on July 24-26, they do not travel to Minnesota, nor do they travel to Kansas City. Conversely, the Dodgers do not host the Tigers in 2017.

Obviously, the indicated game times are subject to change but, for the most part, MLB usually sticks with their preliminary schedule – although the disclaimer to this is that it, too, is subject to change.

Is it Opening Day yet?