MLB 2026 Season Kicks Off: Today's Opening Day Highlights

The majority of Major League Baseball (MLB) teams are set to begin their 2026 season today, Thursday. The season officially commenced last night with the New York Yankees securing a 7-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants.

Today marks the full launch of the MLB 2026 season for most teams, featuring a packed schedule from coast to coast.

Today's Schedule Overview

Today's games are scheduled to commence at 1:15 PM ET, with the Pittsburgh Pirates facing the New York Mets in New York. The day's matchups will conclude on the West Coast, as the Cleveland Guardians play the Seattle Mariners at 7:10 PM PT in Seattle.

The schedule also features a notable division rival matchup: the Arizona Diamondbacks will take on the reigning World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles.

Player Spotlights: O'Neill and Peralta Aim for Big Starts

Tyler O'Neill is poised to play for the Baltimore Orioles against the Minnesota Twins at 3:05 PM ET at Camden Yards. He is aiming to extend an extraordinary streak of hitting a home run on Opening Day to seven consecutive years. O'Neill's impressive streak began in 2020 during his time with the St. Louis Cardinals, continued through his tenure with Boston, and carried into his arrival in Baltimore.

He will face Twins ace Joe Ryan, who posted a 3.42 ERA in 2025. Ryan recorded an All-Star campaign in 2025, during which he surrendered 26 home runs. O'Neill's 2025 season included a .199/.292/.392 batting line with nine home runs in 209 plate appearances.

Freddy Peralta will make his first official start for the New York Mets today against the Pittsburgh Pirates. During Spring Training, Peralta achieved a commendable 2.70 ERA across ten innings.

Peralta will face reigning NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes, who recorded an impressive 1.97 ERA in 2025, and a significantly restructured Pittsburgh lineup.

The Pirates' offense includes returning key players Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds, complemented by new offseason additions such as Marcell Ozuna, Brandon Lowe, and Ryan O'Hearn. Peralta himself finished fifth in NL Cy Young voting in 2025, recording a strong 2.70 ERA over 176 2/3 innings with a 28.2% strikeout rate.