MLB announces earliest ever Opening Day for 2027, Wrigley Field All-Star Game amid labor uncertainty

Cubs co-owner tells Dan Dakich he believes the MLB will have an Opening Day next season & avoid a strike that bleeds into the start of the season.

Major League Baseball just wrapped up the 2026 All-Star Game in Philadelphia, which means it's already time to look ahead to next year's game and schedule.

MLB announced the full 2027 season schedule on Thursday afternoon, with a few notable changes from past years. Instead of the traditional late March-early April timeframe, next season will open on March 24 with one single game between two yet-to-be-determined teams.

That's the earliest date, not including international games, in baseball history. And after Netflix hosted the recently completed Home Run Derby, it's set to host that exclusive Opening Night game as well, which may not be the best outcome if the league is trying to attract the largest audience, considering the mediocre ratings the derby brought in.

HOME RUN DERBY RATINGS CRASH ON NETFLIX, SETS 20-PLUS-YEAR LOW AS QUESTIONS SURFACE ABOUT PROGRAM QUALITY

But perhaps most importantly, this new Opening Day schedule raises some serious questions and potential issues for the league, players and the owners. Namely, what happens if there's a lockout? Particularly one that isn't resolved quickly?

A general view of the atmosphere is seen at the Netflix Sports Club at the Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on July 13, 2026, in Philadelphia, Pa. (Lisa Lake/Getty Images for Netflix)

Nearly everyone on all sides agrees that baseball, finally, has momentum and growth on its side. Interest is up, ratings are up, attendance is up. The one thing that could jeopardize it? If baseball misses games. And with the expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the