S.F. will deal with the road at outset

Giants manager Gabe Kapler said the 2020 schedule would have been challenging no matter how it shook out.

The 60game format was released Monday, and Kapler emphasized how tough it is, especially with so many early games on the road, including against the Dodgers. Then again, the Giants, coming off three straight losing seasons, aren’t exactly in position to take any opponent lightly.

“It kind of feels like Christmas morning where you open a present and you don’t know if you like it yet,” Kapler said. “We’re all still digesting the schedule.”

Here are five things to note about the Giants’ schedule:

1. Dodgers busy hosts: The Giants knew they’d play the Dodgers 10 times. That’s how the schedules were going to be set up. Ten games apiece against division opponents. But seven at Dodger Stadium? Talk about overkill.

Indeed, the Giants open at Los Angeles with four games and return two weeks later for three more. The Dodgers’ lone visit to San Francisco is a threegame set, Aug. 2527.

It’s no secret the Dodgers remain favorites to win the National League pennant.

They’re tough to beat anywhere, and seven games at Chavez Ravine amounts to 12% of the Giants’ schedule.

2. Living out of a suitcase: The Giants spend much of the first three weeks on the road, 14 of the initial 20 games. That’ll make it tougher to get an early jump in the standings, especially with 10 of those road games against the Dodgers and Astros.

Of course, that means the back end of the schedule is friendlier, with 13 of the final 22 games at home, finishing with the Rockies and Padres. Coupled with two off days in the final two weeks. That’s not a bad way to cap a season, especially if the Giants defy the long odds and contend.

3. Just once in Texas: When it became clear the Giants would be playing interleague games against both Texas teams, the fear was two trips to the Lone Star State, a coronavirus hot spot. Fortunately for the Giants, it’s just one.

The schedule includes a stop in Houston in midAugust but no visit to Arlington, home of the Rangers, who are opening a park this season. The Giants are cool with seeing it another year.

Other interleague trips besides Oakland include Anaheim and Seattle.

4. MadBum sightings: Giants fans can’t see Madison Bumgarner in person because no spectators are allowed into the ballpark during the coronavirus pandemic. Now the hope is that Arizona’s rotation lines up so that the threetime World Series champ could face his old team.

Mark your calendar for Aug. 2123, Aug. 2830 and Sept. 46. Those are the three Giants-Diamond backs series, and the lefty’s possible matchups against Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford, Brandon Belt, Pablo Sandoval and Co.

The downside is that Bumgarner, a freeswinging, righthanded batter, won’t hit against the Giants now that the universal designated hitter rule is in effect this season.

5. Under the stars: The Giants will be playing mostly night games at Oracle Park, 23 of their 30 home games starting after 6 p.m. In fact, their home opener — usually played in the afternoon — will start at 6:45 p.m.

The Giants’ season opener at Dodger Stadium and that series finale in L.A. are night games and both will be televised by ESPN.