MLB is going big in 2016 on Opening Day – er, Opening Days – with three games now opening the season on Sunday instead of just one, and then a quadruple header of ESPN-broadcast games the next day on Monday, when the rest of the league opens up its season.
The Chicago Cubs will be part of that second group, opening up their season in Anaheim against the Angels at 9pm CT on April 4, in a game broadcast on ESPN2. So, get ready to stay up late on Opening Day.
Here’s the full slate of games for the two-day opener, which will feature all 10 playoff teams, and is kicked off by Cardinals/Pirates:
ESPN will cover 7 Opening Day games during first two days of 2016 regular season on Sunday, 4/3 & Monday, 4/4. pic.twitter.com/VItDXzA7RU
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) November 19, 2015
And did you catch that line at the end? MLB will once again have all of the games on the final day of the season start at the same time, ensuring that, if there are close races, teams won’t be able to know outcomes in advance on that day and rest starters. It also just enhances that day a little bit, with all the action happening simultaneously. I wouldn’t want MLB to do it too often (because it’s also fun to see games playing out through the course of a day), but for the final day of the season, it’s cool.