The Pirates will open the 2009 season April 6 in St. Louis, part of a seven-game road trip that continues to Cincinnati. Next comes the home opener April 13 against the Houston Astros, with first pitch at 1:35 p.m.

Other highlights from the schedule, released yesterday by Major League Baseball:

• The interleague series with the Cleveland Indians at PNC Park will be June 23-25, their first visit since 2003. The other interleague opponents visiting are the Detroit Tigers June 12-14 and Kansas City Royals June 26-28.

• Interleague travel will take the Pirates to Chicago for a May 22-24 series with the White Sox -- they also will stay in that city the next three days for a series with the Cubs -- and to Minnesota June 16-18.

• The Pirates will make five separate trips for their six series in the Pacific and Mountain time zones. They are making a separate trip for each of their five series this year.

• The Pirates' first game at the New York Mets' new Citi Field will be May 8.

• There will be two Saturday afternoon home games, April 18 and Sept. 19, the first in PNC Park history.

Shortstop Jack Wilson, out since Aug. 31 because of a fractured right index finger, was cleared to hit in the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers last night.

He has done some tossing, too, but the plan remains to keep him away from defense the rest of the season.

That being the case, Wilson's immediate priority -- and he is making no secret of this -- is that he hopes to make a plate appearance Sunday in the home finale, a game that would be his last in Pittsburgh if he and his $7.25 million 2009 salary are traded this offseason. The home finale crowd usually is made up of season-ticket holders and other long-time fans.

The Pirates made the West Virginia Power, based in Charleston, W.Va., their new low Class A affiliate through a two-year operating agreement that lasts until 2010. The previous affiliate at that level was in Hickory, N.C., also in the South Atlantic League.

"It is an opportunity to have another affiliate close to Pittsburgh, be associated with a quality ownership and front office group and develop players in a beautiful facility," general manager Neal Huntington said.

Appalachian Power Park is four years old.

The Pirates had their Class AAA affiliate in Charleston in 1971-76.

• The high Class A affiliation with Lynchburg, Va., remains up in the air. Management's first choice is to return, but a move to the Florida State League also has been considered.

• Dates have not been set, but spring training next year -- extended by a week to accommodate the World Baseball Classic -- should start for the Pirates on Feb. 12 or 13. It will end April 4.

• Minicamp should be in the second week of January, also in Bradenton, Fla.