Labor permitting, Orioles will play 1st Grapefruit League game on February 19th

Though there’s a threat of a lockout that will delay spring training, Major League Baseball released its spring schedule on Friday.

The Orioles’ first Grapefruit League game is scheduled for February 19^th when they will host the Atlanta Braves at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. It will be the first of 15 games in Sarasota.

They’ll play split-squad games on February 21^st and March 7^th. They’ll play nine opponents — Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Boston, Tampa Bay, Detroit, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Toronto and the New York Yankees.

The game against the Yankees on March 19^th will be the final one in Sarasota. Their final game in Florida will be March 20^th against the Pirates in Bradenton.

They’ll play road games against the same nine opponents.

There are two offdays, March 3^rd and 11^th.

For the second straight season, the Orioles are scheduled to play home-and-home games with the Washington Nationals. They’ll host the Nationals at Oriole Park on March 21^st and play at Nationals Park March 22^nd before returning to Florida to open the regular season against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on March 25^th.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com