2026 Major League Baseball season

Last updated

2026 MLB season
League Major League Baseball
Sport Baseball
DurationMarch 25 – September 27, 2026
Games162
Teams30
TV partner(s) Fox/FS1
TBS
MLB Network
NBC/NBCSN
ESPN/ABC
Streaming partner(s) HBO Max
Apple TV
Fox One
Peacock
Netflix
ESPN DTC
Draft
Regular season
Postseason
World Series
MLB seasons
2027 
Usa edcp relief location map.png
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    Athletics
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Guardians   
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Tigers       
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Locations of AL teams for the 2026–present MLB seasons
ButtonOrange.svg West   ButtonYellow.svg Central   ButtonRed.svg East

The 2026 Major League Baseball season is scheduled to begin on March 25 with a single night game featuring the San Francisco Giants hosting the New York Yankees before the regular season proper runs from March 26 to September 27. The postseason will begin on September 29. The World Series will begin on October 23 and will end with Game 7 if necessary on October 31. The 96th All-Star Game is scheduled for July 14 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies. [1]

Contents

Schedule

Major League Baseball released its 2026 schedule on August 26, 2025. Each team will play 162 regular-season games. As has been the case since 2025, each team was scheduled to play 13 games against their division rivals, totaling 52 games. Each team would play six games against eight opponents and seven games against two opponents in the same league for a total of 62 games. Each team would also play 48 interleague games, including a six-game home-and-home series against their designated interleague rival. The regular season is scheduled to open on March 25, with a standalone night game featuring the San Francisco Giants hosting the New York Yankees. The slate of Opening Day games will then take place on March 26, the earliest that it has been scheduled in MLB history. This season's "Rivalry Weekend" is planned on May 15–17, again 11 series featuring prime "interleague" rivals and the matches reversed from the previous year. [1] The scheduled return of the London Series was cancelled due to scheduling conflicts at London Stadium and Fox's availability due to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. [2]

The 96th All-Star Game is scheduled for July 14 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies. The game will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence. [1]

The MLB at Field of Dreams game returns on August 13 after a three-season absence, with the Minnesota Twins hosting the Philadelphia Phillies. [3]

A Subway Series matchup between the New York Mets and the New York Yankees will be played at Yankee Stadium on September 11–13 to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. [1] [4] The two teams squared off at Citi Field for the 20th anniversary. [4]

Rule changes

On September 23, 2025, MLB's competition committee approved use of the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS), beginning with the 2026 season. Under the approved plan, batters, pitchers, and catchers are allowed to request challenges by tapping on their helmet or cap. Each team starts with two challenges, retains a challenge if it is successful, and receives additional challenges in extra innings. [5]

Managerial changes

General managers

Off-season

TeamFormer GMInterim GMReason For LeavingNew GMNotes
Colorado Rockies Bill Schmidt N/AResigned Paul DePodesta On October 1, Bill Schmidt resigned after five years as the team's head of baseball operations. [6]

Paul DePodesta was named the new head of baseball operations on November 7. DePodesta, who had served in the Cleveland Browns front office since 2016, has 20 years of baseball executive experience and this is his second major executive role. He was previously general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2004–2005. [7]

Washington Nationals Mike Rizzo Mike DeBartoloFiredTBDOn July 6, Mike Rizzo was fired after 17 years as the team's president of baseball operations. The Nationals named assistant general manager Mike DeBartolo as the interim general manager. [8]

Field managers

Off-season

TeamFormer ManagerInterim ManagerReason For LeavingNew ManagerNotes
Atlanta Braves Brian Snitker N/ARetired Walt Weiss On October 1, 2025, after a 76–86 (.469) 2025 season, the Braves and Brian Snitker mutually agreed to end his managerial tenure with the organization. He will be taking a front office role to remain with the Braves in an advisory capacity. Snitker finished his Braves career with a 811–668 (.548) record and seven postseason appearances, which resulted in a World Series title in 2021. Snitker was named NL Manager of the Year in 2018, leading the Braves to their first NL East division title since 2013. [9]

Weiss, the current bench coach, was promoted as the new manager on November 3. He was previously the manager of the Colorado Rockies from 2013-16. [10]

Baltimore Orioles Brandon Hyde Tony Mansolino Fired Craig Albernaz On May 17, 2025, after a 15–28 (.349) start to the season, the Orioles fired Brandon Hyde. Hyde finished his Orioles managerial career with a 421–492 (.461) record with two postseason appearances. Hyde was named AL Manager of the Year in 2023, leading the Orioles to a 100-win season (their first since the 1980 season) and their first AL East division title since 2014. Tony Mansolino was named the interim manager for the remainder of the season. This was Mansolino's first managerial position. [11]

Albernaz was hired as the new manager on October 27. This will be his first managerial position. [12]

Colorado Rockies Bud Black Warren Schaeffer Warren SchaefferOn May 11, 2025, after a 7–33 (.175) start to the season, the Rockies fired Bud Black. Black finished his Rockies managerial career with a 544–690 (.441) record with two postseason appearances. Warren Schaeffer was named the interim manager for the remainder of the season. This was Schaeffer's first managerial position. [13] On November 24, the Rockies removed the interim tag and named Schaeffer as the new Rockies manager.[ citation needed ]
Los Angeles Angels Ron Washington Ray Montgomery Option not exercised Kurt Suzuki On September 30, 2025, after a short 36–38 (.486) 2025 season due to being placed on medical leave on June 27 and undergoing a quadruple bypass heart surgery, the Angels announced that Ron Washington would not return in 2026. Washington finished his Angels career with a 109–137 (.443) record and no postseason appearances. [14]

Suzuki was hired as the new manager on October 21. This will be his first managerial position. [15] He has previously served as special assistant to general manager Perry Minasian from 2023 to 2025 after finishing his playing career with the Angels from 2021 and 2022.

Minnesota Twins Rocco Baldelli N/A Derek Shelton On September 29, 2025, after a 70–92 (.432) 2025 season, the Twins announced that Rocco Baldelli would not return in 2026. Baldelli finished his Twins career with a 527–505 (.511) record and three postseason appearances. [16] He won the American League Manager of the Year Award in 2019.

Shelton was hired as the new manager on October 30. He was previously the manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates for nearly six years from 2020–25. [17]

San Diego Padres Mike Shildt Retired Craig Stammen On October 13, 2025, after a 90–72 (.556) 2025 season, Shildt announced his retirement, citing the severe toll of the job. Shildt finished his Padres career with a 183–141 (.565) record and two postseason appearances. Shildt was named NL Manager of the Year in 2019, while managing the St. Louis Cardinals. [18]

Stammen was hired as the new manager on November 6. He was previously in the Padres organization as an assistant to the major league coaching staff and baseball operations department from 2024 to 2025 after finishing his playing career with the Padres from 2017 to 2022. [19]

San Francisco Giants Bob Melvin Fired Tony Vitello On September 29, 2025, after a 81–81 (.500) 2025 season, the Giants fired Bob Melvin. Melvin finished his Giants career with a 161–163 (.497) record and no postseason appearances. [20]

Vitello, the coach at Tennessee, was hired as the new manager on October 22. This will be his first managerial position. He is the first individual to transition directly from a college program to managing an MLB team without prior professional coaching experience. [21]

Texas Rangers Bruce Bochy Contract expired Skip Schumaker On September 29, 2025, after a 81–81 (.500) 2025 season, the Rangers and Bruce Bochy mutually agreed to end his managerial tenure with the organization. He has been offered a front office role to remain with the Rangers in an advisory capacity. Bochy finished his Rangers career with a 249–237 (.512) record and one postseason appearance, which resulted in a World Series title in 2023. [22]

Schumaker was hired as the new manager on October 13. [23] He previously served as the manager for the Miami Marlins from 2023–24 before leaving to become the special advisor to Texas Rangers general manager Chris Young in 2025.

Washington Nationals Dave Martinez Miguel Cairo Fired Blake Butera On July 6, 2025, after a 37–53 (.411) start to the season, the Nationals fired Dave Martinez. Martinez finished his Nationals career with a 500–622 (.446) record with one postseason appearance, which resulted in a World Series title in 2019. [8] Miguel Cairo was named interim manager on July 7. This was Cairo's second stint as manager after leading the Chicago White Sox in 2022 with a record of 18–16 (.529). [24]

On October 31, Blake Butera was hired as the new permanent manager of the team, making this his first managerial position. [25]

Venues

The Athletics will play their June 8–14 homestand at Las Vegas Ballpark in Summerlin South, Nevada, the home of their Pacific Coast League affiliate, the Las Vegas Aviators, as a preview for their eventual relocation to Las Vegas. [1]

The Tampa Bay Rays will return to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, which had been damaged by Hurricane Milton, forcing the team to play their 2025 home games at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. [26] [27] [28] [29]

Uniforms

Wholesale changes

Anniversaries and special events

The 2026 season marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of the National League, although an earlier major league, the National Association, existed from 1871 to 1876. Two of the eight charter members of the National League are still playing: the Atlanta Braves (formerly of Boston) and the Chicago Cubs.[ citation needed ]

This also marks the American League's 125th anniversary as a major league, although it previously operated for several years as a minor league. Seven of the league's 15 current franchises date back to 1901.[ citation needed ]

TeamSpecial occasion
All Teams Jackie Robinson Day (April 15)
Pink Ribbons for breast cancer awareness (May 10, Mother's Day)
Patch for Armed Forces Day (May 16) and Camouflage caps for Armed Force's Day Weekend (May 15–17)
Poppy for Memorial Day (May 25)
#4 patch for Lou Gehrig Day (June 1)
"Play Ball" patch in partnership with USA Baseball and USA Softball (June 12–14)
Blue Ribbons for prostate cancer (June 21, Father's Day)
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum logo patches (July 17–19)
Gold Ribbons for childhood cancer (September 1)
#21 patch for Roberto Clemente Day (September 15)
"MLB Debut" patch for players who play their first Major League game
Gold "batterman" patch for previous season's winners of the Most Valuable Player, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards
Arizona Diamondbacks25th Anniversary of 2001 World Series Championship
Atlanta Braves60th Anniversary Season (in Atlanta)
150th Anniversary Season (including seasons in Boston and Milwaukee)
Baltimore Orioles60th Anniversary of 1966 World Series Championship
Chicago Cubs10th Anniversary of 2016 World Series Championship
150th Anniversary Season
Cincinnati Reds50th Anniversary of 1976 World Series Championship
Los Angeles Dodgers45th Anniversary of 1981 World Series Championship
2025 World Series championship (March 26)
Milwaukee Brewers25th Anniversary of American Family Field
Minnesota Twins35th Anniversary of 1991 World Series Championship
New York Mets40th Anniversary of 1986 World Series Championship
New York Yankees70th Anniversary of 1956 World Series Championship
65th Anniversary of 1961 World Series Championship
30th Anniversary of 1996 World Series Championship
Philadelphia Phillies 2026 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
Pittsburgh Pirates25th Anniversary of PNC Park
55th Anniversary of 1971 World Series Championship
St. Louis Cardinals20th Anniversary of 2006 World Series Championship
15th Anniversary of 2011 World Series Championship

Media

Television

National

Linear Television

In February 2025, ESPN and MLB announced that both parties had exercised a mutual opt-out to end their media agreement following the previous 2025 season. ESPN's contract was originally going to expire after the 2028 season. [31] [32]

In November 2025, Major League Baseball reached new, three-year agreements with NBC Sports, ESPN, and Netflix to replace the previous ESPN agreement. [33] [34]

This will also be the fifth year of the existing seven-year deals with Fox, TBS, and Apple TV. [35]

  • Fox will continue to air Fox Saturday Baseball , Baseball Night in America , and the 2026 MLB All-Star Game. FS1 will also broadcast games, mainly on Saturday afternoons, which will be both non-exclusive and co-exist with regional broadcasts. [36]
  • NBC will air Sunday Night Baseball games from April to August, along with primetime games on Opening Day and Labor Day, and MLB Sunday Leadoff on July 5. NBC will also air the 2026 MLB Draft and the 2026 All Star Futures Game. NBCSN will carry the remainder of Sunday Night Baseball and MLB Sunday Leadoff games.
  • ESPN will exclusively broadcast 30 games, primarily on summer weeknights. As part of this package, ESPN will continue to air the MLB Little League Classic, along with games on Memorial Day and the second-half opener.
  • TBS will continue to broadcast MLB Tuesday . Most games are blacked out in the home markets of the teams playing; however, TBS is allowed to co-exist once with a team's local broadcast. [37]
  • MLB Network will continue to broadcast a regular slate of games. While most games will be simulcasts of the teams' local broadcast, select games are produced by the network under its MLB Network Showcase banner. All games were blacked out in the home markets of the teams playing. [38]
  • UniMás and TUDN will air the weekly whiparound show MLB En Vivo (lit.'MLB Live') on Tuesday nights throughout the season, the weekly studio show MLB Esta Semana (lit.'MLB This Week') on Saturday nights, and postseason coverage. [39]
Streaming
  • HBO Max will continue to simulcast TBS' games on its ad-free tier.
  • Apple TV will continue to stream Friday Night Baseball . [40]
  • Netflix will air a game on Opening Night, the MLB at Field of Dreams game, and the Home Run Derby.
  • ESPN Unlimited will continue to stream games airing on ESPN. Additionally, the service will stream daily games that are blacked out in home markets.
  • Peacock will exclusively air the remainder of Sunday Night Baseball and Sunday Leadoff games, along with all games on July 5. Peacock will also stream daily games that are blacked out in home markets and a whiparound show every Sunday following Sunday Leadoff and simulcast all NBC games.
  • Fox One will simulcast in-market and national Fox games along with all FS1 games.
  • MLB.tv will continue to stream out-of-market games (including out-of-market Fox games) and all MLB Network games (with this service being exclusively integrated into the ESPN app) .
Postseason

During the postseason, NBC Sports (NBC and NBCSN, with Spanish–language simulcasts on Universo) will air all four Wild Card Series. TNT Sports (TBS and truTV) will then broadcast the American League Division Series and the American League Championship Series, [37] and Fox Sports (Fox and FS1, with Spanish-language simulcasts on Fox Deportes) will broadcast the National League Division Series, the National League Championship Series and the World Series. [36]

Local

  • On March 3, 2025, the Orioles and Nationals reached a settlement to end the teams' dispute over television rights fee payments. MASN, which is owned and operated by the Orioles but airs both teams' games, pays rights fees to the Nationals. Through the settlement, the Nationals' agreement with the Orioles and MASN will end following the 2025 season. The Nationals have not yet announced a new local television agreement. [41]
  • On September 8, 2025, the Mets and Nexstar Media Group announced a new agreement to air games over-the-air through the 2028 season. Nexstar stations will exclusively air 30 Mets games locally, including five spring training games. Long time flagship WPIX will continue to air these games, alongside Nexstar stations in Albany, Binghamton, Syracuse, Utica, and Hartford. [42]
  • Root Sports, the television home of the Mariners since 1993, announced it would shut down following the 2025 season. MLB Local Media, which produced Mariners games for Root Sports in 2025, will replace Root as the Mariners local broadcaster. [43]

International

  • ESPN will additionally air its slate of games in Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, Oceania and the Netherlands, and will air games through Disney+ in select markets in Asia and Europe. [44]
  • TNT Sports will additionally air its slate of games in Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. [44]
  • Fox Sports will additionally air its slate of games in Argentina, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. [44]
  • MLB Network International will air select games worldwide.

Radio

The aforementioned ESPN-MLB mutual opt-out included the ending of ESPN Radio's deal to air All-Star Weekend and the entire postseason. [31] However, on November 19, 2025, it was announced that ESPN Radio would remain the national radio broadcaster for MLB games, including Sunday Night Baseball, the MLB All-Star Game and postseason games. [45]

This will be the third season of the league's five-year deal with SiriusXM and SiriusXM Canada to simulcast all 30 teams' local regular season and postseason broadcasts. [46]

Retirements

The following players and coaches retired during the 2026 season and before the start of the 2027 season:

Retired numbers

References

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