Mariners will open '19 season in Japan vs. A's

SEATTLE -- The Mariners and A's will open next season in Tokyo, Major League Baseball announced on Tuesday, marking the second time the two American League West foes have squared off at the Tokyo Dome to begin a regular season.

The clubs will play a two-game series on March 20-21, with the games counted officially as home contests for Oakland. The Mariners and A's will also play two exhibition games each against Japanese teams on March 17-18 in doubleheaders at the Tokyo Dome.

"The Mariners have been closely tied to Japan since Nintendo purchased a majority of the team in 1992 and have had Japanese players on our roster every season since 1996," said Mariners chairman and managing partner…