Earliest start set for 2019 season

NEW YORK — All 30 Major League Baseball teams will open play on March 28 next season, the earliest opening day in history, excluding international openers.

The previous earliest opening day was March 29 of this year.

MLB released the 2019 schedule Wednesday. It will begin with an opening series in Japan between the Mariners and host Athletics at the Tokyo Dome on March 20-21.

The 2019 season will be the second under the scheduling format agreed to as part of the 2017-2021 basic agreement. That format adds an additional weekend at the beginning of the season and gives each team three to four additional off days throughout the season to provide added rest and opportunities for rescheduling.

The Red Sox and Yankees will play the first MLB games in Europe on June 29-30 in London.

MLB will also return to Monterrey, Mexico, for six games in 2019, starting with spring training games between the Rockies and Diamondbacks on March 9-10.

In the regular season, the Reds will host the Cardinals on April 13-14, and the Angels will play the Astros on May 4-5.

All games will be played at Estadio de Beisbol Monterrey, the home of the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League.

The Rockies will be making their third trip to Mexico. The Diamondbacks have played 10 exhibition games there, all in Hermosillo.

The Reds and Cardinals will be making their first trips to Mexico. The Angels and Astros have previously played exhibitions there.

The Dodgers and Padres played a regular-season series in Monterrey in May.