During the lockout Rob Manfred announced the that first two series of the 2022 season were cancelled. As it turns out, the announcement was more of a guideline than a rule. With the negotiations concluded on a new CBA, the very same Rob Manfred announced that a 162-game schedule, previously impossible because of “deadlines,” would indeed be played this year.
For the Red Sox those first two series were against American League East rivals: the Tamps Bay Rays to open the season (originally March 31 to April 3) followed by the Baltimore Orioles (originally April 4-6).