MLB releases 2017 Astros schedule

The quicker the 2016 season can forget the better. It helps to know what the Astros will face ahead of them going forward into the 2017 — after Sports Illustrated said this was the Astros’ year. Right?

The Astros will, of course, face the American League with unbalanced lean toward the AL West. But in 2017, the Astros will face the National League East as their interleague crossover.

The other highlights include:

• The Astros will open the 2017 season with a seven-game homestand with four games against the Mariners (April 3-6) and three games against the Royals (April 7-9).
• It is the 41st time the franchise will start at home. Houston has started at home five of the last six seasons, breaking that streak this season with a series in New York against the Yankees.
• Astros will play the Rangers at home for 10 games for a four-game set, May 1-4. and two three-game sets, June 12-14 and Aug. 29-31.
• As noted, interleague play will include the five NL East clubs. The New York Mets will visit Minute Maid Park for a three-game series the weekend of Sept. 1-3, marking their first visit to Houston since 2012. The Astros will also host the Atlanta Braves (May 9-10) and Washington Nationals (Aug. 22-24) in 2017.

A few other notes:

• The Astros longest road trip is 10 games. The Astros will play three games against the Twins (May 29-31) and Rangers (June 2-4), finishing with a four-game series against the Royals (June 5-8).
• The longest home stand is 10 games from June 19-28, the Astros will play three games against the Indians (May 19-21), four games against the Tigers (22-25), and three games against the Orioles (26-28).
• The Astros finish the season with six-game road trip, three in Arlington (Sept. 25-27) and three in Boston (Sept. 28-30).