Cubs 2018 regular season schedule

The new MLB/MLBPA collective-bargaining agreement specified that starting in 2018, the regular season would be extended by four days. The purpose: to give more off days for players during the season.

This is why the 2018 schedule will begin Thursday, March 29, instead of the following Sunday/Monday. This will also mean spring training will end earlier than it has in past years, though the spring schedule won’t be out until (probably) November.

The Cubs get a break in the early schedule by opening the season in warm-weather Miami, where they also have a domed stadium. The home opener on Monday, April 9 will also give the Cubs an extra week or so to finish up offseason construction at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs’ 2018 interleague opponents will come from the A.L. Central, which means six games against the White Sox instead of four. (Too many, in my opinion.)

One thing you will notice immediately is the addition of off days to the schedule, which spreads things out quite a bit. There are also a fairly large number (at least as compared to past years) of road trips and homestands that last just one series, plus there seems to be a larger number of four-game series in 2018. Some of those one-series trips or homestands are followed by off days. This should be helpful in scheduling night games for the Cubs, who likely won’t be forced to play any more day games at home immediately following a night game on the road.

Here’s the Cubs’ complete 2018 schedule. Game times are official as of January 10, 2018. (All times Central)

March 29-30-31, April 1: at Marlins (11:40 a.m., 6:10, 6:10, 12:10)
April 2-3: at Reds (3:10, 5:40)
April 5-6-7-8: at Brewers (7:10, 7:10, 6:10, 1:10)
April 9, 11-12: Pirates (1:20, 7:05, 1:20)
April 13-14-15: Braves (1:20, 1:20, 1:20)
April 16-17-18: Cardinals (7:05, 7:05, 1:20)
April 20-21-22: at Rockies (7:40, 7:10, 2:10)
April 24-25: at Indians (5:10, 6:10)
April 26-27-28-29: Brewers (7:05, 1:20, 1:20, 1:20)
April 30, May 1-2: Rockies (7:05, 7:05, 1:20)
May 4-5-6: at Cardinals (7:15, 1:15, 7:05)
May 7-8-9: Marlins (7:05, 7:05, 1:20)
May 11-12-13: White Sox (1:20, 1:20, 1:20)
May 15-16-17: at Braves (6:35, 6:35, 6:35)
May 18-19-20: at Reds (6:10, 6:10, 12:10)
May 22-23: Indians (7:05, 7:05)
May 25-26-27: Giants (1:20, 6:15, 7:05)
May 28-29-30: at Pirates (12:35, 6:05, 6:05)
May 31, June 1-2-3: at Mets (6:10, 6:10, 6:15, 12:10)
June 5-6-7: Phillies (7:05, 7:05, 1:20)
June 8-9-10: Pirates (1:20, 1:20)
June 11-12-13: at Brewers (7:10, 7:10, 1:10)
June 15-16-17: at Cardinals (7:15, 7:15, 1:15)
June 18-19-20: Dodgers (7:05, 7:05, 1:20)
June 21-22-23-24: at Reds (6:10, 6:10, 3:10, 12:10)
June 25-26-27-28: at Dodgers (9:10, 9:10, 9:10, 2:10)
June 29-30, July 1: Twins (4:05, 1:20, 1:20)
July 3-4: Tigers (1:20, 1:20)
July 6-7-8: Reds (1:20, 1:20, 1:20)
July 9-10-11: at Giants (9:15, 9:15, 2:45)
July 13-14-15: at Padres (9:10, 9:10, 3:10)
July 16-17-18: All-Star break
July 19-20-21-22: Cardinals (6:05, 1:20, 6:15, 1:20)
July 23-24-25-26: Diamondbacks (7:05, 7:05, 1:20, 1:20)
July 27-28-29: at Cardinals (7:15, 3:05, 7:05)
July 31, August 1: at Pirates (6:05, 6:05)
August 2-3-4-5: Padres (7:05, 1:20, 1:20, 1:20)
August 6-7-8: at Royals (7:15, 7:15, 7:15)
August 10-11-12: Nationals (1:20, 1:20, 7:05)
August 14-15: Brewers (1:20, 1:20)
August 16-17-18-19: at Pirates (6:05, 6:05, 6:05, 12:35)
August 21-22: at Tigers (6:10, 6:10)
August 23-24-25-26: Reds (7:05, 1:20, 1:20, 1:20)
August 27-28-29: Mets (7:05, 7:05, 1:20)
August 31, September 1-2: at Phillies (6:05, 6:05, 12:35)
September 3-4-5: at Brewers (1:10, 7:10, 7:10)
September 6-7-8-9: at Nationals (6:05, 6:05, 6:05, 12:35)
September 10-11-12: Brewers (7:05, 7:05, 7:05)
September 14-15-16: Reds (1:20, 3:05, 1:20)
September 17-18-19: at Diamondbacks (8:40, 8:40, 8:40)
September 21-22-23: at White Sox (3:10, 6:10, 1:10)
September 24-25-26-27: Pirates (7:05, 7:05, 7:05, 7:05)
September 28-29-30: Cardinals (1:20, 12:05, 2:20)