MLB Schedule 2013: Breaking Down Biggest Matchups to Watch Next Season

One of the great things about Major League Baseball—aside from the fact that it is baseball—is the way the people in charge don't keep you waiting to get a look at the schedule for next season. 

Other sports will have some long, drawn-out process to get their schedules out. Baseball doesn't have to tease us, because we know that there is so much to talk about in the offseason. 

Plus, it gives us that much more time to look ahead to matchups that have incredible intrigue. On paper, these look like the biggest series to watch when 2013 rolls around, though a lot will change in the offseason with free agency and trades. 

Detroit Tigers at Washington Nationals (May 7-8)

Washington Nationals at Detroit Tigers (July 30-31)

These two brief series are on the list of biggest matchups for two reasons. First, and most obvious, they should both be contending for a playoff spot in their respective leagues. Postseason intrigue makes a series exponentially better. 

The second reason that these series are on the list might not even happen, because it all depends on health and how the matchups work out, but we could see Stephen Strasburg and Justin Verlander go head to head with each other for the first time ever. 

There should be no stupid innings restrictions on Strasburg next season; Verlander is a horse who will give you 240-250 innings every year. These two pitchers have the most dominant arsenals in all of baseball. 

St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Angels (July 2-4)

Sure, this series would be more intriguing if it was taking place in St. Louis, but the reunion of the Cardinals and Albert Pujols will make for a lot of drama and build before the games even take place. 

Plus, I am going to be interested to see how these two teams are performing next year. If I were to name the most disappointing teams in each league this season, it would probably be the Cardinals and Angels. 

Neither team has been bad, but they should both be a lot better than their records say they are right now. 

I will be interested to see what, if any, changes these two teams make in the offseason. I think the Cardinals are more likely to make moves, because they don't have as much committed in payroll as the Angels do, but we have seen that when the Angels want to make a move, they will go all out to make it happen. 

Boston Red Sox at Los Angeles Dodgers (Aug. 23-25)

It is not very often that you will see a team so happy to go across the country to play a series in August, but don't be surprised if the Red Sox front office is in Los Angeles on August 23 throwing a party for the Dodgers. 

In case you missed it, the Dodgers took nearly $260 million worth of contracts off Boston's hands in August. Nearly a year later, the Red Sox will travel out to Chavez Ravine. 

This is going to be an interesting offseason for the Red Sox. Everyone assumes that Bobby Valentine will be fired. The team needs to make significant upgrades at a few positions, though there are not a lot of great free agents out there unless you want to fork over $200 million for Josh Hamilton. 

Even without all that Boston drama, these are two of the most storied franchises in the history of baseball, and they haven't played each other in Los Angeles since 2002. 

For a complete look at the 2013 MLB Schedule, click here. 

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