2014 Atlanta Braves Schedule

It's never too early to look ahead to the next season so with that said here's the 2014 Atlanta Braves schedule and some random thoughts on how it breaks down.

Mar. 31-Apr. 2 - @ Milwaukee Brewers (3 games)

Braves open the 2014 season in Milwaukee. This series will be interesting for a number of reasons. Will Carlos Gomez still be in a Brewers uniform come next spring? If so what kind of action if any will the Braves take against him? What kind of response will Ryan Braun get?

Apr. 4-6 - @ Washington Nationals (3 games)

A chance for the Braves to send an early season message to the Nationals that this year is no fluke and that the Braves are once again kings of the NL East.

Apr. 8-10 - New York Mets (3 games)

The Braves home opener. There will be a special presentation before the game to reveal the 2013 NL East championship banner out in LF but will there be an extra special presentation to take place? Let's hope so.

Apr. 11-13 - Washington Nationals (3 games)

Another chance to reinforce the message that the Braves will send to the Nationals in Washington.

May 26-27 - Boston Red Sox (2 games)
May 28-29 - @ Boston Red Sox (2 games)

Braves return to Interleague play in 2014 with their rivalry series taking place against the Red Sox. It marks a return to a traditional rivalry instead of the manufactured rival of the Blue Jays that has been forced on the Braves the last few years.

Jun. 24-26 - @ Houston Astros (3 games)

The NL East matches up with the AL West in 2014 and that includes the Braves returning to Houston for the first time since the opening week of the 2012 season. The Braves will also have a great chance of seeing Brett Olberholtzer who was one of the key pieces in the Michael Bourn trade of 2011. Olberholtzer was quite impressive for the Astros this season.

Other AL West matchups for the Braves in 2014 include:

Jun. 3-4 - Seattle Mariners (2 games)
Jun. 13-15 - Los Angeles Angels (3 games)
Aug. 4-5 - @ Seattle Mariners (2 games)
Aug. 15-17 - Oakland Athletics (3 games)
Sept. 12-14 - @ Texas Rangers (3 games)

In the last couple of years the Braves having homestands of 9 games have been been far and few between.

2012 - Jun. 8-17 - 9 Games (TOR, NYY, BAL)
2012 - Jun. 26-Jul. 5 - 10 Games (ARI, WAS, CHC)
2012 - Jul. 27-Aug. 5 - 10 Games (PHI, MIA, HOU)
2013 - Aug. 9-18 - 9 Games (MIA, PHI, WAS)
2013 - Aug. 27-Sept. 4 - 9 Games (CLE, MIA, NYM)

Just 5 such homestands in the last 2 years. In 2014 the Braves get 5 such homestands.

May 2-11 - 9 Games (SF, STL, CHC)
May 19-27 - 9 Games (MIL, COL, BOS)
Jul. 18-Jul. 28 - 11 Games (PHI, MIA, SD) - First 11 games after the ASG break.
Aug. 8-17 - 10 Games (WAS, LAD, OAK)
Sept. 15-25 - 10 Games (WAS, NYM, PIT)

Sept. 26-28 - @ Philadelphia Phillies (3 games)

The Braves wrap up the 2014 regular season in Philadelphia