All 30 teams are scheduled to play when baseball returns for MLB 2022 Opening Day. Meaningful games are scheduled to begin March 31, beginning the seven-month journey to the World Series.
Opening day 2022 is marked by rivalry games. Of the 15 games on the schedule, only four contests feature two teams that are not in the same division.
The New York Yankees will play in one of those matchups when they visit the Texas Rangers on Opening Day. The Yankees were eliminated in the 2021 American League Wild-Card Game. The Rangers had a disappointing 60-win season, giving Texas the second-worst record in the AL.
The defending champion Atlanta Braves visits the Miami Marlins to begin their championship defense. Atlanta has won the NL East four years in a row.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will host the Colorado Rockies in the first of 162 games. Los Angeles enters the season as MLB favorites after three trips to the World Series in the past five years.
In the only opening day matchup between two teams that made the playoffs last year, the Boston Red Sox are set to host the Tampa Bay Rays. Tampa Bay won the AL East, but the Red Sox upset the Rays in the ALDS.
Boston was beaten by the Houston Astros in the ALCS. Following their loss to the Braves in the Fall Classic, the Astros begin the 2022 season against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The MLB lockout could threaten the expected start of the season. Commissioner Rob Manfred has indicated that opening day will be delayed if a new CBA is not concluded by the end of February.
Update: MLB has told MLBPA that the date a new CBA is needed to start the 2022 season on time is Feb. 28. It’s unclear if the union agrees it’s cut, but there can’t be much wiggle room, a few days at most. March 31st is opening day and ST needs 4 weeks. @BNightengale mentioned on 02/28.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) February 18, 2022
Here’s the full 2022 MLB Opening Day schedule.
Colorado Rockies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, TBD
Kansas City Royals vs. Cleveland Guardians, TBD
St. Louis Cardinals at Pittsburgh Pirates, 1:05 p.m. EST
Washington Nationals at New York Mets, 1:10 p.m. EST
Arizona Diamondbacks at Milwaukee Brewers, 2:10 p.m. EST
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox, 2:10 p.m. EST
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Baltimore Orioles, 3:05 p.m. EST
New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers, 4:05 p.m. EST
Atlanta Braves at Miami Marlins, 4:10 p.m. EST
Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds, 4:10 p.m. EST
Minnesota Twins vs. Chicago White Sox, 4:10 p.m. EST
San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres, 4:10 p.m. EST
Philadelphia Phillies at Houston Astros, 7:09 p.m. EST
Los Angeles Angels at Oakland Athletics, 10:07 p.m. EST
Detroit Tigers vs. Seattle Mariners, 10:10 p.m. EST
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