The 2018 Spring Training exhibition schedule will begin on Wednesday, February 21st as the Arizona Diamondbacks host Arizona State University at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, Arizona, Major League Baseball announced today. Official Grapefruit League and Cactus League games will begin on Friday, February 23rd, while the first full slate of games involving all 30 Major League Clubs will take place on Saturday, February 24th.
Among games being played outside of traditional Spring Training sites, split squads of the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs will play two games in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, March 17th and Sunday, March 18th; and select exhibition games at Major League and Minor League ballparks will be played from Saturday, March 24th through Tuesday, March 27th.
The 2018 regular season will begin for all 30 Major League Clubs on Thursday, March 29th. Next season will mark the first under the new scheduling format agreed to as part of the 2017-2021 Basic Agreement between MLB and the Major League Players Association (MLBPA). As a result, the March 29th start date to the regular season will mark the earliest Opening Day in Major League history, excluding special season-openers at international venues. In addition, 2018 will mark the 12th season in history, and the first since 2011, to open on a Thursday, as well as the first since 1968 in which every team across the Majors opens on the same date.
The complete 2018 Spring Training schedule, subject to change, is below and is also available at MLB.com/springschedule.