While there’s much work left in 2021, the 2022 schedule come with a new set of excitement for the Atlanta Braves.
After an aborted schedule squashed the possibility in 2020, the Atlanta Braves will have their interleague matchups feature the American League’s Western division in 2022… which will bring the Los Angeles Angels to town for the first time since Shohei Ohtani joined their club.
That’s one of the highlights as we review the just-released 2022 schedule, which MLB continues to release at what seems like an odd time… right after the trade deadline while the current season is still in progress… but let’s check out other parts of it anyway:
- OPENING DAY: Thursday, March 31st in Miami
- The Braves will play six consecutive games on the road, right out of the chute: Miami and the Mets.
- HOME OPENER: Cincinnati on Thursday, April 7. The Nationals follow the Reds.
- WEST COAST TRIPS: In stark contrast to 2021 (the Atlanta Braves are now the furthest West they’ve been all year… in St. Louis), there’s a San Diego/Los Angeles road trip in the middle of April.
- There’s another Western trip at the end of April (Texas). That’s an odd quickie as the next destination is New York.
- End of May/early June: another one: Arizona, Colorado… and we haven’t visited any AL teams other than the Rangers yet!
- The Big One: September 6-14… Oakland, Seattle, and San Francisco. Good times. At least there are three off-days spaced throughout… hopefully no rain-out make-up games are required in there.
- THE ANGELS: They come to Truist Park immediately after the All-Star Break… July 22-24.
- The only other AL West visitor will be the Astros: August 19-21. Bring your inflatable trash cans.
- The obligatory Boston series: 2 games in May (Home, May 10-11) and two more in August on the road (Aug 9-10).
- LONGEST HOME STAND. 2 candidates, depending how you count it:
- 10 days, 8 games (May 6-15: MIL, BOS, SDiego)
- 10 days, 10 games (July 4-13: STL, WSH, METS)
- LONGEST ROAD TRIP: August 4-14 vs. the Mets, Red Sox, and Marlins. 9 games over 11 days are scheduled.
- HOLIDAYS: the Atlanta Braves will be home for July 4th and Mother’s Day only. They will miss Memorial Day and Labor Day by 1 day each (they aren’t even scheduled to play on Labor Day). The team will be on the road for both Easter (April 17) and Father’s Day (June 19).
- END OF THE LINE: Atlanta finishes the regular season with NL East opponents for the second half of September:
- Philly, Washington at home
- Philly, Washington on the road
- 3 with the Mets at home to end the season on Sunday, October 2.
- There’s one off-day in all of that, which starts on Sept. 15.
Atlanta Braves, Road Warriors?
It’s been noted just how often Atlanta has been forced to start a season on the road. Here is a chronicle of that, courtesy of our friend Grant McAuley:
#Braves Opening Day since 2005:
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) August 4, 2021
2005 - @ FLA
2006 - @ LAD
2007 - @ PHI
2008 - @ WAS
2009 - @ PHI
2010 - vs. CHC
2011 - @ WSN
2012 - @ NYM
2013 - vs. PHI
2014 - @ MIL
2015 - @ MIA
2016 - vs. WSN
2017 - @ NYM
2018 - vs. PHI
2019 - @ PHI
2020 - @ NYM
2021 - @ PHI
2022 - @ MIAMLB likes to use domed stadiums to open a schedule — there’s no chance of a rainout or snowout, and thus all of the usual pomp and circumstance can be planned.
However, Atlanta usually has good weather at the beginning of April and could also play host to a true home opener… but clearly that’s not usually how the schedule has played out: thus this will be the 4th consecutive year with a road opener, and the 14th in the past 18 seasons.
That’s it… and on balance, it’s not that terrible a schedule at first glance, but we know a lot can change between now and then!