The Washington Nationals will open the 2027 season with a home game against the Philadelphia Phillies on March 25, MLB officials announced Thursday.
It’s the earliest opening day in the Nationals’ franchise history.
The MLB season will begin with a to-be-determined matchup that will air live on Netflix on March 24. It is the earliest start date — not including international games — in league history.
The Nationals’ schedule also features the customary July 4 home game, which in 2027 will feature the Athletics as the opponent visiting the nation’s capital on Independence Day.
The Athletics still won’t have a city in their name for 2027 and will continue to play the bulk of their home games in Sacramento while construction continues on their new stadium in Las Vegas.
Washington ends the season on the road against the Phillies on Sept. 26.
MLB’s schedule release features a large asterisk, though. The league’s labor contract between players and ownership expires on Dec. 1.
A lockout is expected as owners and the players association have publicly sparred over new proposals, including a salary cap.
In 2022, an agreement wasn’t reached until March 10, causing opening day to be pushed back from March 31 to April 7. A 1990 lockout similarly delayed opening day by a week.
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