The Brewers' 42nd season -- and their 14th in the National League -- gets underway Thursday afternoon in Cincinnati against the defending NL Central Division champion Reds.

The 2011 schedule includes a pair of nine-game home stands, one in May and another at the end of July into early August, as well as a 13-game road trip following the All-Star Game in July.

In addition, Milwaukee will play 15 consecutive interleague games this season, beginning June 17 in Boston. The NL Central plays the AL East this year, so the Brewers will face, along with the Red Sox, the Yankees and Rays.

The Brewers will be making their first trip to the Bronx since 1997, when they were still members of the American League. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, will be making it's first trip to Miller Park. The annual home-and-home series with Minnesota is also on the schedule -- June 24-26 at Miller Park and July 1-3 in Minneapolis.

The arch-rival Cubs make three trips to Milwaukee this season -- including a three-game series during the opening home stand -- while the Brewers travel to Wrigley Field for a four-game set in June and three games in August.

The home opener is Monday, April 4 against Atlanta at 1:10 p.m.

Complete 2011 schedule

March: 31 -- at Cincinnati.

April: 2-3 -- at Cincinnati; 4-7 -- vs. Atlanta; 8-10 -- vs. Chicago Cubs; 12-14 -- at Pittsburgh; 15-17 -- at Washington; 18-20 -- at Philadelphia; 22-24 -- vs. Houston; 25-27 -- vs Cincinnati; 29-30 -- at Houston.

May: 1 -- at Houston; 2-4 -- at Atlanta; 6-8 -- at St. Louis; 9-11 -- vs. San Diego; 13-15 -- vs. Pittsburgh; 16-19 -- at San Diego; 20-22 -- vs. Colorado; 23-25 -- vs. Washington; 27-29 -- vs. San Francisco; 30-31 -- at Cincinnati.

June: 1 -- at Cincinnati; 3-5 -- at Florida; 7-9 -- vs. New York Mets; 10-12 -- vs. St. Louis; 13-16 -- at Chicago Cubs; 17-19 -- at Boston; 20-22 -- vs. Tampa Bay; 24-26 -- vs. Minnesota; 28-30 -- at New York Yankees.

July: 1-3 -- at Minnesota; 4-6 -- vs. Arizona; 7-10 -- vs. Cincinnati; 12 -- All-Star Game (at Arizona); 14-17 -- at Colorado; 18-21 -- at Arizona; 22-24 -- at San Francisco; 26-28 -- vs. Chicago Cubs; 29-31 -- vs. Houston.

August: 1-3 -- vs. St. Louis; 5-7 -- at Houston; 9-11 -- at St. Louis; 12-14 -- at Pittsburgh; 15-18 -- vs. Los Angeles Dodgers; 19-21 -- at New York Mets; 22-24 -- at Pittsburgh; 26-28 -- vs. Chicago Cubs; 30-31 -- vs. St. Louis.

September: 1 -- vs. St. Louis; 2-4 -- at Houston; 5-7 -- at St. Louis; 8-11 -- vs. Philadelphia; 13-14 -- vs. Colorado; 16-18 -- at Cincinnati; 19-21 -- at Chicago Cubs; 23-25 -- vs. Florida; 26-28 -- vs. Pittsburgh.

Other important dates

April 6 -- First date a player placed on the 15-day disabled list during Spring Training (backdated to March 22) may be reinstated.

April 10 -- First day a player optioned during Spring Training may be recalled.

April 15 -- Jackie Robinson Day.

May 15 -- Earliest date clubs may re-sign players they unconditionally released between Aug. 31, 2010 and March 31, 2011.

June 6-8 -- First-Year Player Draft.

July 12 -- All-Star Game, Chase Field, Phoenix.

July 24 -- Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Cooperstown, N.Y.

July 31 -- Non-waiver trade deadline, 3 p.m. (CDT).

Aug. 15 -- Last day to sign 2011 draft choices with remaining college eligibility.

Aug. 31 -- Postseason eligibility lists due at midnight.

Sept. 1 -- Active rosters expand from 25-40 players.

Sept. 28 -- End of 2011 regular season.