MLB 2027 Season: A Super Simple Guide for Beginners

Published: Jul 16, 2026, 03:08 PM ET — New York

What Is Happening with MLB’s 2027 Opening Day?

Major League Baseball (MLB) is the top professional baseball league in the U.S. and Canada. Here’s the big news:

• MLB plans to have its earliest Opening Day ever on March 24, 2027 — that’s the first day of the season.
• This is true unless there are international games (more on that later).
• But there’s a catch: this only happens “if there is an Opening Day.” Why? Because of a possible work stoppage (explained below).

Important: The March 24 start is not 100% guaranteed. A labor fight could delay or cancel it.

How Will the Season Start?

MLB said on Thursday that the 2027 season will begin with:

• A single game (just one matchup) on March 24.
• The game will be shown on Netflix that night (yes, the streaming service!).
• The two teams playing have not been chosen yet.

The Opening Day Matchups (If It Happens)

If the season starts on time, here are the 15 games planned for Opening Day:

• Cleveland Guardians at Chicago Cubs
• St. Louis Cardinals at Cincinnati Reds
• Chicago White Sox at Detroit Tigers
• Texas Rangers at Houston Astros
• Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals
• Atlanta Braves at Los Angeles Dodgers
• New York Mets at Miami Marlins
• Los Angeles Angels at Milwaukee Brewers
• Toronto Blue Jays at New York Yankees
• Athletics at Pittsburgh Pirates
• Arizona Diamondbacks at San Diego Padres
• Colorado Rockies at San Francisco Giants
• Boston Red Sox at Seattle Mariners
• Baltimore Orioles at Tampa Bay Rays
• Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals

Why Might Opening Day Not Happen?

Baseball has a labor contract — think of it as a work agreement between team owners and players.

• That contract ends on December 1.
• A lockout (when owners freeze play because they can’t agree with players) is expected.
• In 2022, they didn’t agree until March 10. That pushed Opening Day from March 31 to April 7.

Important: If owners and players don’t agree before March 2027, the season could be delayed like in 2022.

Other Key 2027 Season Dates

Here are the big days to know:

1. All-Star Game (best players showcase): July 13 at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
2. Rivalry Weekend: follows the All-Star Game.
3. Regular Season Ends: September 26.

The Athletics Team: A Moving Story

The Athletics are a team with a weird home situation:

• They will play most home games in West Sacramento, California for the third year in a row.
• After that, they plan to move to a new stadium in Las Vegas.
• They will play some home games at a minor-league ballpark in Las Vegas starting May 31 against San Diego and Cincinnati.

No International Games in 2027

Because there is no labor contract yet for 2027:

• No games outside the U.S. and Canada are planned.
• International games usually need that contract to be settled first.

Summary

• MLB wants the earliest Opening Day ever on March 24, 2027 with one Netflix game (teams TBD).
• 15 matchups are set if the day happens.
• A labor contract expires Dec 1 and a lockout may delay things.
• All-Star Game is July 13 in Chicago; season ends Sept 26.
• Athletics play in West Sacramento then Vegas; no international games scheduled.

FAQ

Q: What is Opening Day?
A: It’s the first day of the MLB season when teams start playing official games.

Q: Why is a lockout a big deal?
A: It’s when team owners stop play because they and the players can’t agree on a work contract. It can delay the season.

Q: Will I be able to watch the first game on TV?
A: Yes, if it happens, it will be on Netflix that night.

Q: Where will the Athletics play in 2027?
A: Mostly in West Sacramento, with some games in Las Vegas starting May 31.

Q: Are there baseball games in other countries in 2027?
A: No, because there’s no labor contract yet, so no international games are scheduled.