The 1996 Montreal Expos season was the 28th season in franchise history. An 88–74 finish was good enough to put them in second in the National League East, 8 games behind the National League Champion Atlanta Braves and 2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Wild Card standings.

Offseason October 13, 1995: Butch Henry was selected off waivers by the Boston Red Sox from the Montreal Expos. December 1, 1995: Wally Whitehurst was signed as a free agent with the Montreal Expos. December 4, 1995: Jalal Leach was drafted by the Montreal Expos from the New York Yankees in the 1995 minor league draft. December 15, 1995: Omar Daal was traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Montreal Expos for Rick Clelland (minors). December 20, 1995: Andy Stankiewicz signed as a free agent with the Montreal Expos. March 13, 1996: Rick Schu was signed as a free agent with the Montreal Expos. March 13, 1996: Sherman Obando was traded by the Baltimore Orioles to the Montreal Expos for Tony Tarasco.

Spring training The Expos held spring training at West Palm Beach Municipal Stadium in West Palm Beach, Florida – a facility they shared with the Atlanta Braves. It was their 20th season at the stadium; they had conducted spring training there from 1969 to 1972 and since 1981.

Regular season Opening Day (April 1) – Seven pitches into the first game of the season, at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, home plate umpire John McSherry collapses on the field and dies of a massive heart attack.www.baseball-almanac.com Obituary of John McSherry The game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Expos is postponed. Reds owner Marge Schott later comes under fire for wanting the game in Cincinnati to continue despite the tragedy (and against the wishes of the players on both teams), saying that she felt "cheated" when it was canceled.

The Expos set an MLB record with six grand slams before May 1, a feat not equaled until the 2018 Boston Red Sox.

Ultimately, the Expos finished two games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League wild card race.

Opening Day lineup

April 1 (game postponed) Mark Grudzielanek Mike Lansing Rondell White

Pedro Martínez, P Source:

April 2 Mark Grudzielanek, SS Mike Lansing, 2B Rondell White, CF Moises Alou, LF David Segui, 1B Sherman Obando, RF Darrin Fletcher, C Shane Andrews, 3B Jeff Fassero, P Source:

Note: sources do not list the complete Expos lineup for April 1, although it was likely the same (other than the pitcher) as for April 2, as the Reds use the same starting pitcher, left-hander Pete Schourek, on both days.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

|- style="text-align:center; background:#bbb;" | || April 1 || @ Reds || colspan=5 |Postponed (death of umpire John McSherry) Rescheduled for April 2 || 0–0 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 1 || April 2 || @ Reds || 1–4 || Schourek || Fassero (0–1) || Moore || 53,136 || 0–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 2 || April 3 || @ Reds || 8–4 || Veres (1–0) || Shaw || — || 19,104 || 1–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 3 || April 4 || @ Reds || 10–2 || Paniagua (1–0) || Burba || — || 17,067 || 2–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 4 || April 5 || Rockies || 6–4 || Dyer (1–0) || Munoz || Rojas (1) || 45,042 || 3–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 5 || April 6 || Rockies || 4–5 || Thompson || Rueter (0–1) || Leskanic || 27,040 || 3–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 6 || April 7 || Rockies || 9–1 || Fassero (1–1) || Painter || — || 11,212 || 4–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 7 || April 8 || @ Cardinals || 4–3 (10) || Rojas (1–0) || Parrett || — || 52,841 || 5–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 8 || April 10 || @ Cardinals || 1–4 || Benes || Paniagua (1–1) || — || 27,734 || 5–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 9 || April 11 || @ Pirates || 6–5 (11) || Rojas (2–0) || Cordova || Veres (1) || 8,084 || 6–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 10 || April 12 || @ Pirates || 13–3 || Rueter (1–1) || Darwin || — || 13,087 || 7–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 11 || April 13 || @ Pirates || 3–9 || Wagner || Fassero (1–2) || — || 13,834 || 7–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 12 || April 14 || @ Pirates || 2–5 || Neagle || Martinez (0–1) || — || 12,797 || 7–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 13 || April 16 || Phillies || 7–6 || Rojas (3–0) || Springer || — || 8,510 || 8–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 14 || April 17 || Phillies || 3–9 || Mulholland || Cormier (0–1) || — || 8,728 || 8–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 15 || April 18 || Phillies || 8–9 || Bottalico || Rojas (3–1) || — || 8,316 || 8–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 16 || April 19 || Pirates || 2–1 || Manuel (1–0) || Plesac || — || 13,256 || 9–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 17 || April 20 || Pirates || 11–2 || Martinez (1–1) || Ericks || — || 14,022 || 10–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 18 || April 21 || Pirates || 9–4 || Veres (2–0) || Christiansen || — || 11,361 || 11–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 19 || April 22 || Cardinals || 8–0 || Cormier (1–1) || Osborne || — || 9,778 || 12–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 20 || April 23 || Cardinals || 12–11 || Scott (1–0) || Mathews || — || 8,352 || 13–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 21 || April 24 || Reds || 7–6 (10) || Dyer (2–0) || Moore || — || 10,126 || 14–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 22 || April 25 || Reds || 8–4 || Martinez (2–1) || Smiley || — || 13,067 || 15–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 23 || April 26 || @ Rockies || 6–2 || Alvarez (1–0) || Reynoso || — || 48,024 || 16–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 24 || April 27 || @ Rockies || 5–6 (13) || Painter || Daal (0–1) || — || 48,013 || 16–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 25 || April 28 || @ Rockies || 21–9 || Rueter (2–1) || Rekar || — || 48,006 || 17–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 26 || April 29 || @ Mets || 2–3 || Harnisch || Fassero (1–3) || Franco || 14,011 || 17–9 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bbb;" | || April 30 || @ Mets || colspan=5 |Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for May 1 || 17–9

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 27 || May 1 || @ Mets || 4–0 || Martinez (3–1) || Clark || — || — || 18–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 28 || May 1 || @ Mets || 0–6 || Isringhausen || Alvarez (1–1) || — || 16,937 || 18–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 29 || May 3 || @ Astros || 1–4 || Reynolds || Cormier (1–2) || Jones || 19,633 || 18–11 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 30 || May 4 || @ Astros || 2–1 || Veres (3–0) || Hernandez || Rojas (2) || 22,810 || 19–11 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 31 || May 5 || @ Astros || 5–0 || Fassero (2–3) || Brocail || — || 25,207 || 20–11 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 32 || May 6 || Cubs || 6–2 || Martinez (4–1) || Bullinger || — || 46,893 || 21–11 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 33 || May 7 || Cubs || 8–3 || Veres (4–0) || Adams || — || 13,236 || 22–11 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 34 || May 8 || Cubs || 4–2 || Cormier (2–2) || Navarro || Rojas (3) || 12,484 || 23–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 35 || May 9 || Astros || 4–11 || Kile || Rueter (2–2) || — || 12,470 || 23–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 36 || May 10 || Astros || 5–2 || Fassero (3–3) || Dougherty || Rojas (4) || 30,315 || 24–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 37 || May 11 || Astros || 10–9 (13) || Dyer (3–0) || Dougherty || — || 26,084 || 25–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 38 || May 12 || Astros || 7–6 || Urbina (1–0) || Hampton || Rojas (5) || 19,345 || 26–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 39 || May 13 || @ Dodgers || 3–2 || Manuel (2–0) || Worrell || Rojas (6) || 25,600 || 27–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 14 || @ Dodgers || 1–2 || Martinez || Veres (4–1) || Worrell || 37,942 || 27–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 41 || May 15 || @ Dodgers || 2–7 || Candiotti || Fassero (3–4) || — || 26,875 || 27–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 42 || May 17 || @ Padres || 1–2 (12) || Hoffman || Rojas (3–2) || — || 26,469 || 27–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 43 || May 18 || @ Padres || 3–2 || Urbina (2–0) || Valenzuela || Rojas (7) || 31,749 || 28–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 44 || May 19 || @ Padres || 3–4 || Worrell || Veres (4–2) || Hoffman || 28,769 || 28–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 45 || May 20 || @ Giants || 6–9 || Dewey || Dyer (3–1) || Beck || 10,062 || 28–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 46 || May 21 || @ Giants || 5–8 || Dewey || Aucoin (0–1) || Beck || 8,911 || 28–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 47 || May 22 || @ Giants || 4–3 || Martinez (5–1) || VanLandingham || Rojas (8) || 11,663 || 29–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 48 || May 24 || Dodgers || 4–5 (11) || Osuna || Daal (0–2) || Worrell || 27,843 || 29–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || May 25 || Dodgers || 3–5 || Martinez || Cormier (2–3) || Worrell || 27,104 || 29–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 50 || May 26 || Dodgers || 3–4 || Candiotti || Rojas (3–3) || Worrell || 30,718 || 29–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 51 || May 27 || Padres || 3–4 || Hamilton || Fassero (3–5) || Hoffman || 44,636 || 29–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 52 || May 28 || Padres || 2–3 (10) || Hoffman || Scott (1–1) || Bochtler || 16,537 || 29–23 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 53 || May 29 || Padres || 9–4 || Urbina (3–0) || Valenzuela || — || 14,386 || 30–23 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 54 || May 31 || Giants || 7–4 || Daal (1–2) || DeLucia || Veres (2) || 25,712 || 31–23

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 55 || June 1 || Giants || 5–1 || Fassero (4–5) || Fernandez || Dyer (1) || 36,858 || 32–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 56 || June 2 || Giants || 1–8 || Leiter || Martinez (5–2) || — || 25,006 || 32–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 4 || @ Marlins || 0–5 || Burkett || Rueter (2–3) || — || 14,821 || 32–25 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 58 || June 5 || @ Marlins || 2–1 || Cormier (3–3) || Rapp || Veres (3) || 21,342 || 33–25 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 59 || June 7 || @ Cubs || 9–3 || Fassero (5–5) || Castillo || — || 23,860 || 34–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 60 || June 8 || @ Cubs || 4–6 || Telemaco || Martinez (5–3) || Wendell || 37,373 || 34–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 61 || June 9 || @ Cubs || 2–4 || Trachsel || Rueter (2–4) || Wendell || 30,785 || 34–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 62 || June 10 || Marlins || 2–5 || Nen || Dyer (3–2) || — || 34,867 || 34–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 63 || June 11 || Marlins || 3–2 || Scott (2–1) || Brown || Veres (4) || 10,758 || 35–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 64 || June 12 || Marlins || 8–0 || Fassero (6–5) || Leiter || — || 12,341 || 36–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 65 || June 14 || @ Reds || 6–1 || Martinez (6–3) || Portugal || — || 26,691 || 37–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 66 || June 15 || @ Reds || 6–5 || Rueter (3–4) || Burba || Rojas (9) || 32,833 || 38–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 67 || June 16 || @ Reds || 0–7 || Salkeld || Cormier (3–4) || — || 25,657 || 38–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 68 || June 17 || @ Rockies || 5–3 || Urbina (4–0) || Freeman || Rojas (10) || 48,021 || 39–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 69 || June 18 || @ Rockies || 12–8 || Dyer (4–2) || Holmes || — || 50,025 || 40–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 70 || June 19 || @ Rockies || 6–7 (10) || Ruffin || Scott (2–2) || — || 48,007 || 40–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 71 || June 20 || Cardinals || 8–3 || Rueter (4–4) || Stottlemyre || — || 15,095 || 41–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 72 || June 21 || Cardinals || 4–3 (12) || Rojas (4–3) || Eckersley || — || 16,136 || 42–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 73 || June 22 || Cardinals || 4–9 || Morgan || Urbina (4–1) || — || 16,895 || 42–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 74 || June 23 || Cardinals || 3–2 || Fassero (7–5) || Osborne || Rojas (11) || 22,168 || 43–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 75 || June 24 || Pirates || 11–3 || Martinez (7–3) || Dessens || — || 23,736 || 44–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 76 || June 25 || Pirates || 8–2 || Rueter (5–4) || Smith || Scott (1) || 12,776 || 45–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 77 || June 26 || Pirates || 1–3 || Darwin || Cormier (3–5) || Cordova || 12,846 || 45–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 78 || June 28 || @ Phillies || 3–7 || Mulholland || Urbina (4–2) || Ryan || 21,703 || 45–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 79 || June 29 || @ Phillies || 1–0 || Fassero (8–5) || Schilling || — || 22,898 || 46–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 80 || June 30 || @ Phillies || 6–5 || Rojas (5–3) || Bottalico || Dyer (2) || 24,949 || 47–33

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 81 || July 1 || Braves || 2–7 || Avery || Rueter (5–5) || — || 34,116 || 47–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 82 || July 2 || Braves || 5–1 || Cormier (4–5) || Maddux || — || 20,075 || 48–34 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 83 || July 3 || Braves || 1–3 || Glavine || Scott (2–3) || Wohlers || 26,837 || 48–35 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb"