Here is an early look at the Chicago White Sox 2016 schedule
By Erik Brown
The tentative Chicago White Sox schedule for the 2016 season has been announced. Since it is tentative there is obviously some chance that it will get changed but I would not imagine that is the case. Just to be safe, those of you that travel to away games may want to wait to schedule your vacations until it becomes official.
The White Sox open the season at the Oakland Athletics for a four-game set starting Monday, April 4th. The home opener will be April 8th, a Friday, against the Cleveland Indians. The Crosstown Classic with the Chicago Cubs returns to the home-home-away-away format during the week (July 25-26 at home with July 27-28 up on the north side) which I don’t really like but at least they get to continue the rivalry when they play other divisions in interleague play.
Speaking of which, the White Sox will square off against the National League East next year, with road trips pitting the Southsiders against the New York Mets (May 30-June 1), Miami Marlins (August 12-14), and Philadelphia Phillies (September 20-21).
Phenom Bryce Harper and his Washington Nationals visit U.S. Cellular Field for a three game set starting June 7th. Four road trips span at least eight games and each of those will feature pitchers hitting for at least two games (Chicago, New York, Miami, Philadelphia).
A seven-game homestand to end the season hopefully proves beneficial if this team lives up to the expectations that were set forth this season and are likely remain next season. Playing the NL East should help, as they currently sport three of the five worst teams in the majors (Phillies, Marlins and Atlanta Braves).
As Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times points out, the White Sox are one of three teams (the others are the Kansas City Royals and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) yet to visit the new Marlins Park. (For the record I consider Marlins Park to be one of the ugliest in baseball, and the home run statue is a big reason why. Its only redeeming quality in my mind are the huge aquariums behind home plate.)
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It will also be a treat if we get to see a Matt Harvey–Chris Sale pitching duel when squaring off with the Mets as former general manager Omar Minaya selected Harvey over Sale on draft day 2010, questioning the former Florida Gulf Coast University lefty’s durability as a starting pitcher.
The final month of the season will feature almost exclusively inter-divisional matchups. Starting August 29th, the last 31 games the White Sox play will have only six against non-American League Central opponents (Tampa Bay Rays for four and Philadelphia for two).
What games excite you the most? Any particularly worrisome or favorable stretches in your mind? Let me know in the comments below.
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