It is an exciting time to be a Toronto Blue Jays fan on the West Coast! The Major League Baseball schedule for the 2026 season has been released, and it aligns perfectly with your location in the San Francisco Bay Area and your family connections in Phoenix.
Because the A's are temporarily playing in Sacramento and the MLB balanced schedule ensures the Blue Jays visit every National League park every other year, you have a wealth of opportunities to see your team in 2026 without needing to fly to Toronto.
Here is your custom game plan for the 2026 season.
Part 1: The Southwest Road Trip (April 2026)
This is the perfect opportunity to combine a visit to your daughter in Phoenix with a drive to the Los Angeles area. The Blue Jays play back-to-back series in Arizona and Anaheim in mid-April.
Leg 1: Phoenix, AZ (vs. Arizona Diamondbacks)
- Dates: Friday, April 17 – Sunday, April 19, 2026
- Venue: Chase Field
- The Plan: You can spend the weekend with your daughter in Phoenix while catching the three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Since these are weekend games, the atmosphere at Chase Field should be lively.
Leg 2: Anaheim, CA (vs. Los Angeles Angels)
- Dates: Monday, April 20 – Wednesday, April 22, 2026
- Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
- The Drive: After the Sunday game in Phoenix, it is a straightforward drive (approx. 5–6 hours) west on I-10 to the Los Angeles area for the next series.
- Note on Los Angeles: You mentioned hoping to see the Blue Jays play the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, for the 2026 season, the Dodgers are scheduled to visit Toronto (April 6–8), meaning the Blue Jays will not play at Dodger Stadium this year. However, this series against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim places them firmly in the L.A. market, just a short drive from downtown Los Angeles.
Part 2: The Bay Area Series (July 2026)
This series is right in your backyard. You won't even need to take a road trip for this one, just a BART ride or a short drive to the city.
San Francisco, CA (vs. San Francisco Giants)
- Dates: Monday, July 6 – Wednesday, July 8, 2026
- Venue: Oracle Park
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Game Times:
- Monday, July 6: 6:45 PM
- Tuesday, July 7: 6:45 PM
- Wednesday, July 8: 12:45 PM
- Bonus Option (San Diego): If you are feeling adventurous and want a summer road trip, the Blue Jays continue their California swing by driving south to play the San Diego Padres at Petco Park immediately following this series, from July 10–12 (Friday–Sunday).
Part 3: The Sacramento Series (September 2026)
You are correct that the Athletics are playing in Sacramento. The Blue Jays will visit their temporary home, Sutter Health Park, toward the end of the season. This is an easy drive from the Bay Area.
West Sacramento, CA (vs. The Athletics)
- Dates: Monday, September 7 – Wednesday, September 9, 2026
- Venue: Sutter Health Park
- The Experience: This will be a unique opportunity to see Major League Baseball in a minor league facility (the home of the River Cats), offering incredibly intimate views of the players compared to the Oakland Coliseum or Rogers Centre.
Summary of Key Dates
- April 17–19: @ Arizona Diamondbacks (Phoenix)
- April 20–22: @ Los Angeles Angels (Anaheim)
- July 6–8: @ San Francisco Giants (Oracle Park)
- September 7–9: @ Athletics (Sacramento)
Start planning your April vacation days now—it looks like the perfect double-header trip for family and baseball!
Backgrounder Notes
Based on the article provided, here are key concepts and facts identified for further context, accompanied by brief backgrounders.
MLB Balanced Schedule Implemented starting in the 2023 season, this format ensures that every MLB team plays all 29 other teams at least once per season, reducing the number of divisional games. This change guarantees that the Blue Jays (an American League team) will visit every National League city, such as San Francisco and Phoenix, on a rotating two-year cycle.
Sutter Health Park Located in West Sacramento, this stadium is the temporary home of the Athletics (2025–2027) during their transition from Oakland to a planned stadium in Las Vegas. With a capacity of roughly 14,000 (including lawn seating), it is significantly smaller than standard MLB venues, offering a rare, intimate viewing experience usually reserved for Triple-A Minor League Baseball.
Chase Field Opened in 1998 in downtown Phoenix, this stadium was the first in the United States built with a retractable roof over a natural grass field (now synthetic turf) to combat the desert heat. The climate-controlled environment ensures that mid-April games remain comfortable for spectators regardless of outdoor temperatures.
Angel Stadium of Anaheim Often referred to as "The Big A," this ballpark opened in 1966 and is currently the fourth-oldest stadium in Major League Baseball. While it carries the "Los Angeles" geographic moniker for marketing purposes, it is located in Orange County, approximately 30 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles.
Oracle Park The home of the San Francisco Giants is famous for its location along the San Francisco Bay, specifically "McCovey Cove" beyond the right-field wall where fans in kayaks wait for home run balls. It is widely considered one of the most picturesque and pedestrian-friendly ballparks in the league.
Petco Park Located in the heart of downtown San Diego, this stadium is architecturally unique for incorporating the historic Western Metal Supply Co. brick building into the left-field stands. It features "Gallagher Square," a park-within-a-park area beyond the outfield fence where fans can watch the game from a grassy slope.
Rogers Centre The home field of the Toronto Blue Jays, formerly known as SkyDome, was the world's first stadium with a fully retractable motorized roof when it opened in 1989. The venue recently underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation to modernize the fan experience, distinguishing it from the older or temporary facilities the team will visit on this road trip.
