CINCINNATI, Oh. – After a New England winter straight out of Edith Wharton’s tragic novella “Ethan Frome,” the snow has melted, the temperatures are climbing, and the Boston Red Sox are back in action at last. (In Cincinnati, that is.)

Here are key series and dates to circle on your calendars for the 126th Red Sox season.

Welcome back

Within their first three series of the season the Red Sox will square off against their former manager and their all-time leader in games played at shortstop.

A long opening weekend begins Thursday at Great American Ballpark, where former Sox skipper Terry Francona is entering his second season as Reds manager and 25th overall. Francona, who turns 67 on April 22, led the 20024-11 Red Sox to a 744-552 record and two championships after an 86-year drought.

This will also be the first Red Sox Opening Day against a National League team since 2017, when they hosted the Pittsburgh Pirates, and their first at an NL ballpark since 2015 at the Phillies’ Citizens Bank Park.

Fenway’s home opener next Friday is against the San Diego Padres and Xander Bogaerts.

Bogaerts’s first visit to Fenway as a visiting player was in 2024, but he was on the injured list at the time. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the two-time World Series champion and Red Sox all-time leader in games played at shortstop will be on the field this time.

Rafael Devers is also slated to play at Fenway as a visitor for the first time this season, when the San Francisco Giants come to town August 21-23.

Fun fact: Roman Anthony was 21 years and 27 days old when he made his MLB debut last June 9. He’s the fourth-youngest Red Sox to debut in the last 30 seasons; Jeff Suppan (‘95), Bogaerts (‘13) and Devers (‘17) each reached the majors before their 21st birthday.

Keep in mind

Major League Baseball’s balanced schedule returns for the fourth consecutive season, which means the Red Sox will again face each of the other 29 clubs in at least one three-game series and see very little of their AL East rivals.

Prior to the ratification of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement – which is set to expire Dec. 1 – in March 2022, division matchups accounted for 47% of the season slate: teams would play six series and a grand total of 19 games against each of their four division foes.

Now four series and 13 games per opponent, the divisional piece of the pie is a mere 32%. Feelings on the change are mixed, but last year several current and former Red Sox and Yankees told the Herald that they’d like to see the numbers go back up.

Key 2026 MLB dates

One week after the United States celebrates its Semiquincentennial, also known as its 250th birthday, on July 4, Philadelphia will host All-Star Week at Citizens Bank Park. Events include the All-Star Futures Game and a three-on-three knockout competition called MLBx on Sunday, July 12, the Home Run Derby on July 13, and the MLB All-Star Game itself on July 14.

April 15: Jackie Robinson Day (All MLB players wear No. 42)

April 20: The 130th Boston Marathon and the annual Red Sox Marathon Monday morning game.

June 2: Lou Gehrig Day

Aug. 3: MLB trade deadline (6 p.m. ET)

Aug. 13: Field of Dreams Game (Twins vs. Phillies)

Sept. 11: The New York Mets and New York Yankees will play a three-game series at the latter’s ballpark as the nation marks the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Sept. 15: Roberto Clemente Day

Rivalry first

If you’ve been waiting all winter for the Red Sox to exact revenge for last fall’s first-round playoff exit, you won’t have to wait much longer.

Unlike the last two years, when the Red Sox and New York Yankees weren’t on each other’s schedules until June, they’ll meet before the first month of the regular season is over (April 21-23).

Yet in perhaps too much of a schedule correction, the early start to the season series comes with an early end. By the start of July, the Yankees will have completed their two visits to Fenway (June 25-28). And by the end of August (28-30), they’ll be finished with each other altogether.

Until October, perhaps.

A stark September

Whereas last year’s September slate was jam-packed with AL East series, this year the Red Sox will enter the final month of the regular season with all but two of their 16 division series complete; four games in Baltimore (Sept. 3-6) and three in Tampa (Sept. 18-20) will be all that remain.

Make no mistake, though: September will be a grind for the Red Sox, who only get three off-days that month, compared to four last year.

The final series of the season should be interesting. Last year the Red Sox clinched their first playoff berth since 2021 in Game 160. So it’s only fitting that the return of Alex Bregman, who was so instrumental to last season’s success, will return to Fenway with the Chicago Cubs in Game 160 this year (Sept. 25-27).

The 2026 Red Sox are missing something, and it might be for the best