The Philadelphia Phillies' early season schedule could allow Charlie Manuel's team to generate positive momentum. The organization is hopeful that 2013 will enable their return to baseball prominence.
Opening the season with a three-game series on the road against the Atlanta Braves on April 1, 2013 might not allow the team to return to Citizens Bank Park with a winning record. But, hosting the Kansas City Royals and New York Mets for back-to-back three-game sets starting on April 5 should allow the team to move above .500.
Heading on the road again, the Phillies will face the Miami Marlins (who have been acquiring former Phillies' cast-offs) and the Cincinnati Reds from April 12-17. The Reds are a good team, so the second part of that road trip should be a challenge.
Manuel's squad return home to face the St. Louis Cardinals for a four-game set that begins on April 18, followed by another four-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates in eastern Pennsylvania that starts on April 22.
The Phillies travel to play the Mets for three games beginning on April 26. Then they play their first Interleague road series of the season on April 30 against the Cleveland Indians.
If there are no postponements, the Phillies will play 27 games in April. They will play eight series before the start of the Indians' series ends the month.
While no one knows how any game, series, or season might play out, leaving April with a 16-11 record seems within the Phillies' reach.
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