The Chunichi Dragons, who finished runnerup in the Japan Series, will host a three-game series against the Hiroshima Carp at Nagoya Dome when the 2011 regular season in the Central League opens March 25, the league said Wednesday.
In the other opening matchups, the Yomiuri Giants will take on the Yokohama BayStars while the Tokyo Yakult Swallows play the Hanshin Tigers.
The top three teams of the 2009 season will host the opening March 25-27 series. Each team plays 144 games, including 24 interleague games.
Yomiuri will play Yokohama in Maebashi on May 10 in the first Central League game to be held in Gunma Prefecture in 22 years.