(Press Release Courtesy of the Padres Media Department)

SAN DIEGO PADRES RELEASE 2012 SCHEDULE 

- Interleague play to include first-ever visits to PETCO Park by Angels and Rangers -

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Padres today released the club’s schedule for the 2012 regular season. The team will open the season at home on Thursday, April 5, beginning a four-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The home opener will follow two exhibition games against the Kansas City Royals – one at PETCO Park on Tuesday, April 3 and one on Wednesday, April 4 at The Diamond in Lake Elsinore, home of the Padres’ Single-A affiliate, the Storm.

Following the opening series, the Padres will have an off day on Monday, April 9 before hosting the Arizona Diamondbacks for three games to close out the first homestand of the season. After a six-game road trip through Los Angeles and Colorado, San Diego will host the Philadelphia Phillies (April 19-22) for the final weekend series in April.

Interleague play in 2012 will bring the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Texas Rangers to San Diego, with both teams making their first-ever visits to PETCO Park, which opened in 2004. The Padres will host the Angels May 18-20, while the Rangers come to town for a three-game set June 18-20. Interleague play will also include three games in Oakland against the Athletics (June 15-17) and six games against the Seattle Mariners, three at Safeco Field (June 12-14) and three at PETCO Park (June 22-24).

Home weekends for the Padres in 2012 include series against the Phillies, Angels, Mets, Mariners, Reds and Marlins, in addition to the four other National League West teams.

San Diego will play 24 of the final 30 regular season games against NL West rivals, and will wrap up their home season hosting the Dodgers (September 25-27) and Giants (September 28-30), before going on the road for the three final games of the regular season in Milwaukee (October 1-3).

Please note: the schedule and opponents are subject to change. The Padres are set to play 13 Wednesday games at home in 2012, all of which will be day games. Start times will be announced at a later date.

Season ticket plans for the 2012 season are on sale now, with some of the most flexible payment options in baseball. Season ticket holders receive benefits including significant savings over single game prices, priority choice of 2012 regular season seat locations and invitations to exclusive season ticket holder events.

View the entire schedule here