The Red Sox open the 2018 season on Thursday, March 29 against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg in their earliest opener since 2008 when they began the regular season in Japan.

The 2018 schedule, released Tuesday, marks the sixth time in the past seven seasons the Sox have opened on the road. Every MLB team opens on March 29. It's the first time since 1968 that all teams have opened on the same day. In recent years, there's been an ESPN Sunday Night Baseball matchup to open the season before other teams get underway the next day or two.

The Sox' home opener is April 5 against the Rays following a two-game interleague series in Miami against the Marlins. Boston is matched up with the National League East in interleague play in 2018. They play the Braves (May 25-27), the Phillies (July 30-31) Marlins (Aug. 28-29) and Mets (Sept. 14-16) at Fenway.

Interleague road games include a July 4 visit to Washington and the Nationals (July 2-4). The first Yankees series is April 10-12 at Fenway and the Sox first visit Yankee Stadium May 8-10 and close the season with the Yanks at Fenway Sept. 28-30.

The early start allows for three to four more off days as mandated by the new collective bargaining agreement and allows to World Series to be finished in October.

The full schedule: