Tribe, Bucs release ’10 schedules

ASSOCIATED PRESS

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians will start and finish the 2010 season in Chicago.

The Indians will play the White Sox in their season opener on April 5 and play six road games before playing their home opener at Progressive Field on April 12 against the Texas Rangers.

Cleveland’s home schedule will include one visit each by AL East powers Boston and New York. The Red Sox will visit Cleveland for a four-game series from June 7-10, and the Yankees’ will be in for four games from July 26-29.

The Indians will play 31 of their final 44 games next season against AL Central teams, including their final 16 games.

The Indians will end the season with a three-game road series against the White Sox from Oct. 1-3.

Pirates open vs. Dodgers

PITTSBURGH — The Pirates will begin a season at home for only the third time since PNC Park opened in 2001 when they meet the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, April 5.

The Dodgers will be the Pirates’ final home opponent this season, from Sept. 25-28, then will make their only 2010 appearance in Pittsburgh to begin the new season April 5-8.

Despite opening at home, the Pirates will play only nine home games in April. They have a 10-game road trip early in the season to Houston, Milwaukee and Los Angeles.

The Pirates, who have been given few holiday dates during recent seasons, will be home on Memorial Day (Cubs), Independence Day (Phillies) and Labor Day (Atlanta).

The schedule includes 15 consecutive games against American League teams in June, with the White Sox and Indians playing in Pittsburgh and the Pirates visiting Detroit, Oakland and Texas. Pittsburgh’s 15-game interleague schedule this season was twice interrupted by series against NL teams.

The Pirates’ season ends Oct. 1-3 at Florida.