Imagine starting your baseball season in the chilly embrace of late March, with the wind whipping through Wrigley Field. That’s exactly what Cubs fans are facing this year, with five home games scheduled in March—a move that’s sparking both excitement and controversy. But here’s where it gets controversial: Is Major League Baseball setting the Cubs—and their fans—up for a logistical nightmare, or is this just a bold experiment in early-season scheduling? Let’s dive in.
This year’s Cubs schedule kicks off with a six-game homestand at Wrigley Field, starting on Opening Day, Thursday, March 26, and wrapping up on April 1. While the rest of April looks relatively manageable—with a six-game road trip, a few off days, and a seven-game homestand later in the month—those first six games are raising eyebrows. Why? Because they pit the Cubs against the Nationals and Angels, two teams that only visit Wrigley once this season. And this is the part most people miss: the Angels, a West Coast team, are making their only trip to Chicago during this early, weather-prone stretch.
Here’s the issue: scheduling a West Coast team for their sole visit in late March is a recipe for chaos. Postponements due to rain, snow, or frigid temperatures could force the Angels into significant travel disruptions—not exactly ideal for player performance or fan experience. To add insult to injury, both the Nats and Angels will return to Chicago later in April… but to play the White Sox. So, why not flip the script and have them face the Cubs when the weather is more reliable?
Now, I get it—warm-weather and dome teams aren’t exactly clamoring for early April games. Kids are in school, vacations are scarce, and attendance might suffer. But if MLB insists on cramming games into late March, shouldn’t those teams step up and host them? After all, it’s not like Chicago’s weather is a secret. Is MLB prioritizing convenience over common sense?
Let’s take a broader look at MLB’s early-season schedule. The Cubs aren’t alone in hosting games during the first weekend—teams like the Giants, Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Phillies are also opening at home. Among them are five dome teams, four warm-weather teams, and a few cities where March weather can be tolerable (think St. Louis or Baltimore). But then there are the outliers: the Athletics at Toronto, the Rangers at Philadelphia, the Angels at Houston, and the Diamondbacks at the Dodgers. These teams, like the Cubs, seem oddly placed for such an early start.
Here’s where I’m torn. On one hand, Chicago in March can surprise you with unseasonable warmth. In 2012, the city saw nine straight days with highs of 78°F or above—including one day that hit 85°F. During Cubs Spring Training that year, PA announcer Tim Sheridan quipped, ‘In sunny Mesa, it’s 81 degrees… and in Chicago, it’s 85,’ prompting an audible gasp from the crowd. If that happens again, MLB might think, ‘Hey, we can pull this off!’
But let’s be real—that’s the exception, not the rule. The average high in Chicago on March 26 is 50°F, and the record low is a bone-chilling 7°F. Over the past decade, temperatures on that date have ranged from 36°F to 62°F. And that’s not even factoring in rain, snow, or the infamous April cold snaps—like in 2018, when Chicago’s snowy, frigid April led to multiple postponements and a grueling 42 games in 43 days for the Cubs. Is MLB setting itself up for a repeat of that disaster?
Part of me hopes for rain, snow, and chaos during those early games against the Nats and Angels. Maybe, just maybe, the logistical headaches will teach MLB a lesson: early March games in Chicago aren’t worth the risk. But another part of me wonders—what if the weather cooperates? Will MLB see this as a green light to keep pushing the season earlier and earlier?
So, Cubs fans, here’s the question: Are you excited for an early start to the season, or are you bracing for a chilly, potentially chaotic homestand? And to MLB—is this scheduling genius or a gamble gone wrong? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments. Either way, if you’re heading to Wrigley Field for the home opener, bundle up. It’s only 50 days away.
