The 2026 Major League Baseball season began on March 25 with a single night game featuring the San Francisco Giants hosting the New York Yankees and ended on September 27. The postseason began 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 was played on July 14 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Only two teams failed to complete the entire 162-game regular season schedule, as the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 27 was canceled due to rain and never made up, owing to scheduling constraints and the game being inconsequential to the playoffs. It would be the first time since that some teams played more regular season games than the others.
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 started on March 25, with a standalone night game featuring the San Francisco Giants hosting the New York Yankees. The slate of Opening Day games then took 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.
The MLB Mexico City Series returned when the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Diego Padres played a two-game series at Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium in Mexico City on April 25–26. 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. The World Cup also affected schedules of the Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Phillies, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers, whose home stadiums are located near World Cup venues.
The 96th All-Star Game was played on July 14 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies. The game was part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence.
The MLB at Field of Dreams game returned on August 13 after a three-season absence, with the Minnesota Twins hosting the Philadelphia Phillies. The MLB Little League Classic at Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, was played on August 23 between the Atlanta Braves and the Milwaukee Brewers.
A Subway Series matchup between the New York Mets and the New York Yankees was played at Yankee Stadium on September 11–13 to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The two teams squared off at Citi Field for the 20th anniversary.
Rule changes On September 23, 2025, MLB's competition committee approved use of the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) beginning with the 2026 season. 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, if the team is out of challenges during regulation.
Standings
American League
National League
Postseason
Bracket
Managerial changes General managers TeamFormer GMInterim GMReason for leavingNew GMNotesColorado RockiesBill SchmidtN/AResignedPaul DePodesta On October 1, 2025, Bill Schmidt resigned after five years as the team's head of baseball operations. 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.Washington NationalsMike RizzoMike DeBartoloFiredAni KilambiOn July 6, 2025, 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. Ani Kilambi was named the new general manager on December 17. This is his first major executive role. He was previously the assistant general manager for the Philadelphia Phillies until his hiring.
In-season TeamFormer GMInterim GMReason For LeavingNew GMNotes AthleticsDavid ForstDan FeinsteinFiredOn August 7, Forst and the A's parted ways after 11 seasons as general manager and three straight playoff appearances from 2018–2020. Assistant GM Dan Feinstein was named interim for the rest of the season. Houston AstrosDana BrownN/AMutually agree to part waysOn August 24, Brown and the Astros parted ways after four seasons as general manager and two playoff appearances. Los Angeles AngelsPerry MinasianJohn MozeliakFiredOn June 26, Perry Minasian was fired as general manager of the team after six seasons with no playoff appearances. Mozeliak, who spent 30 years in the Cardinals organization, was named interim general manager of the team for the rest of the season.
Field managers Off-season TeamFormer managerInterim managerReason for leavingNew managerNotes Atlanta Braves Brian Snitker N/ARetiredWalt Weiss On October 1, 2025, after a 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 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. Weiss, their bench coach, was promoted as the new manager on November 3. He was previously the manager of the Colorado Rockies from 2013–16. Baltimore Orioles Brandon Hyde Tony Mansolino Fired Craig Albernaz On May 17, 2025, after a start to the season, the Orioles fired Brandon Hyde. Hyde finished his Orioles managerial career with a 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. Albernaz was hired as the new manager on October 27. This will be his first managerial position. Colorado Rockies Bud Black Warren Schaeffer Warren Schaeffer On May 11, 2025, after a start to the season, the Rockies fired Bud Black. Black finished his Rockies managerial career with a 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. On November 24, the Rockies removed the interim tag and named Schaeffer as the new Rockies manager.Los Angeles AngelsRon Washington Ray MontgomeryOption not exercised Kurt SuzukiOn September 30, 2025, after a short 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 record and no postseason appearances. Suzuki was hired as the new manager on October 21. This will be his first managerial position. 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 TwinsRocco Baldelli N/ADerek SheltonOn September 29, 2025, after a 2025 season, the Twins announced that Rocco Baldelli would not return in 2026. Baldelli finished his Twins career with a record and three postseason appearances. 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. San Diego Padres Mike ShildtRetiredCraig Stammen On October 13, 2025, after a 2025 season, Shildt announced his retirement, citing the severe toll of the job. Shildt finished his Padres career with a record and two postseason appearances. Shildt was named NL Manager of the Year in 2019, while managing the St. Louis Cardinals. 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.San Francisco GiantsBob MelvinFiredTony VitelloOn September 29, 2025, after a 2025 season, the Giants fired Bob Melvin. Melvin finished his Giants career with a record and no postseason appearances. 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.Texas RangersBruce BochyContract expiredSkip SchumakerOn September 29, 2025, after a 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 record and one postseason appearance, which resulted in a World Series title in 2023. Schumaker was hired as the new manager on October 13. 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 NationalsDave MartinezMiguel CairoFiredBlake Butera On July 6, 2025, after a start to the season, the Nationals fired Dave Martinez. Martinez finished his Nationals career with a record with one postseason appearance, which resulted in a World Series title in 2019. 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 . On October 31, Blake Butera was hired as the new permanent manager of the team, making this his first managerial position.
In-season