12/11 Cubs vs. Astros March 29-30

The Astros will tune up for their first season in the American League by playing their former National League Central Division rivals, the Cubs, in two spring exhibition games March 29-30 at Minute Maid Park. This will be the Cubs’ only visit to Houston in 2013. The two teams do square off at Wrigley Field June 21-23 in Interleague play. Start times for the exhibition games will be 7:05 p.m. CT on March 29 and 1:05 p.m. CT on March 30.

The Cubs close the Cactus League portion of their spring schedule on March 28 and open the 2013 regular season April 1 in Pittsburgh. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report Feb. 10 with the first workout the following day. The full squad was scheduled to report Feb. 16 and will workout the next day under manager Dale Sveum.

– Carrie Muskat