Earliest Opening Day in history highlights 2027 MLB schedule

Field Level Media|published: Thu 16th July, 21:36 2026

Mar 24, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; A general view of the exterior of Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Taking out Opening Night games, the Major League Baseball season has never started earlier than March 26. But the league will host its earliest Opening Day ever in 2027 as part of its regular season schedule.

On Thursday, MLB announced a start next season with an Opening Night game on March 24, followed by a slate of 14 games the following day, marking the earliest traditional Opening Day in league history.

Next season will also mark the continuation of "Rivalry Weekend" immediately following the All-Star break from July 15-18. The weekend, set to feature matchups between interleague rivals, will be preceded by the 97th edition of the All-Star Game on July 13 at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

Rivalry Weekend will again get an early start with one game starting things off Thursday before the league continues with the same interleague matchups that were on display in 2025.

This will be the fourth time Wrigley Field has hosted the Midsummer Classic, with the traditional Home Run Derby taking place the night before on July 12. Wrigley will be the only active venue to host the event four times (1947, 1962, 1990, 2027), and just the third venue to reach that mark in the league's history.

The season concludes on Sept. 26 with 10 divisional matchups featuring teams potentially battling for playoff positioning.

Fans can expect a full slate of games on Jackie Robinson Day (April 15), Memorial Day (May 31), Lou Gehrig Day (June 2), Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day (Sept. 6) and Roberto Clemente Day (Sept. 15).

The Los Angeles Dodgers will host the Colorado Rockies on Jackie Robinson Day and the New York Yankees will host the Kansas City Royals on Lou Gehrig Day, while the Pittsburgh Pirates will host the St. Louis Cardinals on Roberto Clemente Day.

Other highlights of the schedule include the Boston Red Sox hosting the Cleveland Guardians on Patriots Day (April 19), the Athletics hosting back-to-back series at Las Vegas Ballpark (vs. the San Diego Padres starting May 31 and vs. the Cincinnati Reds beginning June 3), the Padres hosting the Chicago Cubs for a split doubleheader (June 22), the Toronto Blue Jays hosting the Los Angeles Angels on Canada Day (July 1) and the Rockies hosting the Padres for a split doubleheader (July 10).

--Field Level Media

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