The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced their 2012 schedule today. They open up their season at home against the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, April 5th. This will be just the second time since 2006 that the Pirates open up their regular season at home. After a three game series with the Phillies they go on their first west coast trip, playing nine games in nine days against the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks. They play just nine home games out of their first 25 games of the year.
The interleague schedule sees the Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers all visit PNC Park this season during the month of June for three game apiece. The Pirates will also play the Tigers in May in Detroit, as well as making visits to the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Indians in June.
The season wraps up with a six game homestand against the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves with the last game of the year on Wednesday October 3rd. The All-star game is in Kansas City on July 10th.