Cubs 2027 schedule delivers another early stretch that feels all too familiar

Although the Chicago Cubs' 2026 campaign has been a bit of a roller coaster, it's undeniable that they started things out on a high note. April was shaping up to be a brutal month with a streak of games including an improved Pirates team, seven games against the Phillies, a west coast road trip featuring three against the Dodgers and Padres; and a Diamondbacks set back home to cap off the stretch. Despite facing so many competitive teams on paper, they not only survived but thrived, rattling off the first of their two ten-game winning streaks and starting their second within that period.

The question is, can they run it back? That's what the 2027 Cubs schedule will put to the test. As the All-Star break came to a close Thursday, MLB released the full regular-season schedule, and it, again, featured a gauntlet in April. Assuming there isn't a lockout amid CBA negotiations between the owners and players, things kick off earlier than ever on March 25 against the Cleveland Guardians, followed by a rare early match-up with the Cardinals and a few soft-to-middling opponents like the Athletics, Angels, and Rangers. Then, Craig Counsell's team will face the wall.

On April 13, the Cubs will begin a three-game set against the Philadelphia Phillies. This year, hitting them early turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as they got off to a 9-19 start and fired manager Rob Thomson by the end of April, only to turn things around and end up right back in contention for the AL East with a 54-43 record. There's no reason to bank on them slumping early again with the talent they have locked up. After that, they get another visit to the West Coast, this time against the Dodgers and Diamondbacks for three games each. Road trips out west are always difficult, but there may be no two worse draws they could get back-to-back unless the Padres were involved.

The gauntlet continues with two tough NL Central matchups, starting with the Pirates at home on April 23 through 25. Pittsburgh has shown massive improvements this year thanks to new additions like Ryan O'Hearn and up-and-coming stars like Konnor Griffin, and their pitching staff, led by Paul Skenes, makes them a dangerous team even when the offense stays quiet. Then, the Cubs get a visit from the Brewers, who, no matter what happens in the offseason, are bound to be exceptional again. This year has been a showcase of their endless churn of talent and the ascendance of Jacob Misiorowski as the best pitcher in baseball with a 1.62 ERA on the year. Worse, by the time they come to Chicago, they may have the game's #1 prospect, Jesus Made, in tow.

This stretch of 15 games also comes with no off days in between, meaning the Cubs won't even have a chance to catch their breath. They'll finally get a break on April 29, but then it's right back into the fire with a three-gamer against the New York Yankees to take them into May, followed immediately by a four-game set with the Pirates and three games with the Seattle Mariners. Folks, that is 25 games in 26 days against teams that, save for the Mariners, who still have tons of talent themselves and were on the doorstep of the World Series last year, are currently above .500, including a West Coast road trip. Woof.

The Cubs' early 2027 schedule could make or break them

As it was this year, the goal for the Cubs should merely be to survive. Going .500 through these teams, especially if they can take series from the Pirates and Brewers, would be a perfectly fine outcome. They get a fairly soft landing afterward in May, with series against the Marlins, Astros, Nationals, and Royals in between sets with the Cardinals and Brewers. It's worth remembering, though, that 2026 has also shown us that no matter who is believed to be a contender each year, there are possibilities for surprises in both directions.

There's extra incentive to stick around in the race in 2027. They'll have one premium reinforcement ticketed for later next year with Cade Horton hopefully returning from Tommy John surgery. Assuming they can build a strong rotation between this coming trade deadline and the offseason, they could be set up well in the second half to put together a formidable pitching staff in the postseason. Of course, that's if the injury bug doesn't devastate them again.

It's not impossible to dig out of a big early hole — see this year's Phillies and Red Sox — but it's also not how anyone wants to start a year that will once again have high expectations.

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