A’s release 2021 schedule

Assuming pro sports are back to normal by next spring

We’re still waiting for the beginning of the 2020 MLB season, which has been delayed for four months by the coronavirus pandemic, but we already have an idea of what next year might look like. The Oakland A’s released their 2021 schedule on Thursday.

Looking forward to a hopeful return to normalcy, there are 162 games listed. Opening Day is April 1 at home against the Houston Astros, which is a few days later than the 2020 season had originally been planned to begin. It wraps up on Oct. 3, also against the Astros but this time on the road in Houston.

A few other key dates:

• First 10 games are against the Astros and LA Dodgers, though seven are at home
• Add in three against the Twins, four against the Rays, and two against the D’Backs, and April is going to be a tough early test
• Only two off-days in May, giving them a stretch of 39 games in 41 days from late April through early June, including three cross-country trips plus a few flights up and down the coasts
• Lots of road games in June/July, with only 20-of-50 at home
• Stretch drive looks favorable to the A’s, with a majority of Sept against likely weaker teams (Tigers, Blue Jays, Royals, Mariners, and whichever of Angels/Rangers/White Sox falls flat because they probably won’t all break out)
• Giants games are June 25-27 (road) and Aug. 20-22 (home)
• Interleague opponent is the NL West: Dodgers and D’Backs in April, Rockies in June, Padres in July and August

Of course, all of this is contingent on the state of the pandemic. Nobody can predict the future, but if next year the world is stabilized, including the full return of pro sports, then this is what the MLB season will look like for the A’s.

In the meantime, click here to see the A’s abbreviated 60-game schedule for the 2020 season, which is set to begin on July 24.