Major League Baseball announced the full slate of games for the 2027 Spring Training season, with all 30 teams scheduled to start play on February 19. But does that mean these games will actually be played?
The collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the Players Association expires after this season, and many experts are expecting the owners to lock out the players once it does. The owners seem committed to instituting a salary cap, while the MLBPA has historically refused to consider it.
The last time this happened was in 2022, when the regular season start was delayed by a week after a new collective bargaining agreement was reached on March 10. Spring Training was set to begin on February 27, but didn’t actually start until March 17.
This time around, a potential CBA seems much more challenging, and some have suggested that the entire 2027 season could end up at risk.
But if Spring Training does happen …
…here are the schedule items of note and oddities to look for:
- All 30 teams will begin play on Friday, February 19
- Las Vegas will not host A’s Spring Training games for the first time since 2023
- Spring Training will conclude on March 23, and the regular season will start the next day with a single prime-time game (teams to be announced)
- The Red Sox will host the Northeastern University Huskies on February 19 at JetBlue Park
- The Sacramento River Cats will host the San Francisco Giants on March 21 at Sutter Health Park
- The Astros, Angels, Dodgers, Giants, Nats, and Rays will all host Spring Training games at their regular-season stadiums as follows:
3/22/27: Sugar Land Space Cowboys @ Houston Astros, Daikin Park
3/23/27: Sugar Land Space Cowboys @ Houston Astros, Daikin Park
3/21/27: Los Angeles Angels @ Los Angeles Dodgers, Dodger Stadium
3/22/27: Los Angeles Dodgers @ Los Angeles Angels, Angel Stadium
3/23/27: Los Angeles Dodgers @ Los Angeles Angels, Angel Stadium
3/22/27: Boston Red Sox @ San Francisco Giants, Oracle Park
3/23/27: Boston Red Sox @ San Francisco Giants, Oracle Park
3/20/27: Toronto Blue Jays @ Tampa Bay Rays, Tropicana Field
3/21/27: Detroit Tigers @ Tampa Bay Rays, Tropicana Field
3/23/27: Detroit Tigers @ Tampa Bay Rays, Tropicana Field
3/22/27: Baltimore Orioles @ Washington Nationals, Nats Park
Of those, the most interesting are the regional rivalries, with the Nats and Orioles squaring off, and the Dodgers and Angels playing a three-game series split between Dodger Stadium and Angel Stadium. And the Houston Astros hosting their Triple-A affiliate Space Cowboys is always a good event for Houstonians.
We like these games because they give home-team fans a chance to see a game at the Major League ballpark for a typically low price.
Doubleheader Digest
If you’re interested in seeing what other events might be taking place wherever your team is playing Spring Training games, you should check out our Ultimate Sports Calendar. Simply search by metro, and you can see everything happening in that city on one calendar.
Next Steps
Well, it’s never too early to make plans, and with the entire Spring Training schedule being released, there’s nothing to stop you from making some early reservations. Just make sure that whatever you book is refundable, since you don’t want to be stuck with travel that you can’t use if the games are delayed or canceled.
