2026 Cubs schedule delivers cruel twist with rival in final stretch

The 2026 Chicago Cubs schedule has been released. Unlike this season, the Chicago Cubs won't be overseas for Opening Day. Instead, the Cubs will open their 2026 season on March 26, hosting the Washington Nationals for a three-game set. The series will be followed by a three-game set against the Los Angeles Angels before the Cubs make their road debut on April 3 against the Cleveland Guardians.

Unfortunately, while the Cubs ease into their April with the series against the Nationals, Angels, and Guardians, there is a brutal stretch of games to close out the first month of the season. To close out April, the Cubs will have consecutive series against the Philadelphia Phillies on the road, the New York Mets, the Phillies at Wrigley Field, and then a trip out west to play the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. If the Cubs are going to be one of the National League's best teams in 2026, they will be tested early. As they were at the start of this season.

2026 Cubs finish sets up rival showdown that could ruin October

Not to be outdone, the most cinematic stretch of the Cubs' season could be at the start of September. During the first week of September, the Cubs will host the Milwaukee Brewers for a three-game series at Wrigley Field, and then, following a weekend trip to Miami, will have another three-game set against the Brewers during the second week of September.

The 2025 season has been more confirmation that the Brewers have become the definition of success in the National League Central. If the Cubs are going to take back the division in 2026, playing 6 games against the Brewers over the course of two weeks will certainly be a defining moment of their season.

The Cubs will end the 2026 season with a three-game set against the Boston Red Sox in Boston. The hope is that by the time the Cubs reach that series, the focus will be on preparing their roster for the postseason.

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