The Cardinals will once again host opening day at Busch Stadium, and a home-heavy first half of the 2026 schedule will lead to catching up on the road, right down to the final week with a swing through two National League Central cities to close out the regular season.

For the second consecutive season and third time in four years, the Cardinals will host an American League team to start the season.

The Tampa Bay Rays will visit for opening day on March 26 and stay for a three-game series. There is serendipity to the Rays' visit because the Cardinals' opening day will also be the first for Chaim Bloom as president of baseball operations, and he got his start in major-league baseball as an intern and later top executive with Tampa Bay.

The Cardinals first home stand of the 2026 season wi

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