Copyright MLB News
The action kicks off on Feb. 20 with a handful of games, including three in the Cactus League (D-backs-Rockies, Padres-Mariners and Royals-Rangers), one in the Grapefruit League (Yankees-Orioles) and one exhibition matchup (Red Sox-Northeastern University). All 30 big league teams are set to take the field one day later on Feb. 21 for the first full slate of games across the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues. Less than two weeks later, fans in both Arizona and Florida will have a chance to see some unique matchups between MLB clubs and international teams as the latter group prepares for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. In total, there will be 28 exhibition games -- 14 apiece on March 3 and 4 -- featuring a Major League team competing against a World Baseball Classic team. Team USA, which finished as the runner-up to Team Japan at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, will play a pair of games in Scottsdale, Ariz. The first comes against the Giants on March 3 at Scottsdale Stadium, while the second will be against the Rockies on March 4 at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Those tune-up games will come just ahead of the start of the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The North American portion of the tournament kicks off on March 6, with games in Miami, Houston and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The World Baseball Classic exhibitions won't be the only anomalies on the Spring Training schedule. There will be multiple crossover games between the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues. The Yankees -- based in Tampa, Fla. -- will head to Mesa, Ariz., to face the Cubs on March 23-24 at Sloan Field. On those same dates, the Tigers will travel from their base camp in Lakeland, Fla., to Scottsdale, where they will take on the Rockies. In another change of scenery, the A's will play a pair of games in Las Vegas, where they are set to host the Angels on March 7-8 at Las Vegas Ballpark. That all leads up to the 2026 Opening Night game on March 25, when the Giants host the Yankees at Oracle Park. That will be followed by a 14-game slate as MLB celebrates its traditional Opening Day on March 26.
