Pirates announce spring training schedule
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Pirates’ 32-game spring training schedule includes five games against the New York Yankees and home-and-home games with the World Series champion Boston Red Sox. The Pirates play 16 games at their spring training home in Bradenton, Fla., including dates against the Yankees on March 4 and 16 and a March 20 game against the Red Sox.
As usual, the Pirates’ most familiar spring opponent will be the Reds, who train in nearby Sarasota. The teams play six times, including day-night split-squad doubleheaders March 7 and March 12 with a day game in Bradenton and a night game in Sarasota.
The Pirates also play the AL Central champion Minnesota Twins five times, with three games set during the final four days of camp as the other Florida-based teams begin to head north.
Pittsburgh will play Tampa Bay, Philadelphia and Toronto three times each, with two games each against the Braves, Indians and Red Sox and one game against the Detroit Tigers.
The Pirates open their spring schedule March 3 against the Yankees in Tampa before the teams meet the next day in Bradenton. The Pirates close out camp with games against the Twins on Friday, in Bradenton and Saturday, April 2 in Fort Myers, before they return home to open the season on Monday, April 4 in Pittsburgh against the Brewers.