Major League Baseball is scheduled to open its 2027 season on March 24, marking its earliest Opening Day outside of international games. The plan begins with a single Netflix-televised game, though the teams for that matchup have not been selected.
The early date comes with a major uncertainty: MLB’s current labor contract expires on Dec. 1. A management lockout is expected, meaning the March schedule could still be disrupted before a game is played.
MLB previously experienced a labor-related delay in 2022, when an agreement was not reached until March 10. That season’s Opening Day moved from March 31 to April 7.
According to www.espn.com, MLB has outlined 15 opening matchups across the league, including divisional contests and several games involving major-market clubs. The schedule also includes Atlanta visiting the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto traveling to the New York Yankees.
Opening Matchups on the 2027 Schedule
| Road Team | Home Team |
|---|---|
| Cleveland | Chicago Cubs |
| St. Louis | Cincinnati |
| Chicago White Sox | Detroit |
| Texas | Houston |
| Minnesota | Kansas City |
| Atlanta | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| New York Mets | Miami |
| Los Angeles Angels | Milwaukee |
| Toronto | New York Yankees |
| Athletics | Pittsburgh |
| Arizona | San Diego |
| Colorado | San Francisco |
| Boston | Seattle |
| Baltimore | Tampa Bay |
| Philadelphia | Washington |
The 2027 All-Star Game is scheduled for July 13 at Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs. MLB also plans to hold a rivalry weekend immediately after the All-Star Game.
The regular season is scheduled to conclude on Sept. 26. No international games have been scheduled because there is not yet a labor agreement in place for 2027.
Athletics Set for Las Vegas Homestand
The Athletics are scheduled to play most of their home games in West Sacramento, California, for a third straight season before their planned move to a new ballpark in Las Vegas. They will also have a homestand at Las Vegas’ Triple-A ballpark beginning May 31 against San Diego and Cincinnati.
For now, the March 24 opener represents MLB’s earliest planned domestic start to a season. Whether it remains on the calendar will depend on the outcome of negotiations surrounding the next MLB labor contract.