The 2026 season marks a fourth year since MLB again implemented a balanced schedule for all teams, and it’s the second in a row to have what’s deemed Rivalry Weekend across the sport.
MLB’s second annual Rivalry Weekend features 11 series between prime Interleague rivals and four other regional matchups. Last year’s designated stretch of days provided a significant boost to MLB attendance.
For the Los Angeles Dodgers, the designated weekend has them facing the Los Angeles Angels in the first installment of the Freeway Series. The teams are meeting in Anaheim from May 15-17, and play again at Dodger Stadium during the weekend of June 5-7.
The Dodgers are on a two-game winning streak after snapping a historic losing stretch, while the Angels have fallen to the worst record in baseball after an encouraging start to the year.
But whether because of the geographic nature of the matchup or simple randomness of baseball, records often have not mattered when the Angels and Dodgers play. Last year the Dodgers lost all six games to the Angels, a fact that’s not lost on manager Dave Roberts.
“Hopefully we can get a game from the Angels,” Roberts said Thursday night. “They’ve sort of had our number the last few years.”
Last years was the first time the Dodgers lost the season series to the Angels since 2019. Overall, the Angels have won seven games in a row against the Dodgers and lead the all-time Freeway Series 81-73.
The Dodgers’ longest winning streak in the Freeway Series is 10 games, which spanned from Aug. 7, 2021 through July 8, 2023.
A total of 134 players have been part of both teams. That of course includes Shohei Ohtani, but also Don Sutton, Albert Pujols, Rickey Henderson and Travis d’Arnaud, among others.
Ohtani is expected to be back in the Dodgers lineup this weekend after not hitting in their last two games.
MLB Rivalry Weekend 2026
The first game of 2026 Rivalry Weekend has the Pittsburgh Pirates hosting the Philadelphia Phillies. First pitch at PNC Park is set for 3:40 p.m. PT.
The Friday Night Baseball doubleheader on Apple TV+ features the Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers in a regional rivalry game, and Subway Series between the New York Yankees and New York Mets.
Additional regional matchups are games between the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros, and Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies.
Also taking place this weekend is the “Vedder Cup” matchup between the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park.
The remainder of MLB’s Interleague rivalry matchups are Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians, Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals, Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves, Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays, Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals, Milwaukee Brewers and Minnesota Twins, and San Francisco Giants and Athletics.
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