After a lengthy off-season, MLB Opening Day is finally here, kicking off with a game between the Pirates and the Mets in Queens.
The Mets have made some significant changes during the off-season, including moving on from players like Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, and Edwin Diaz. They’ve brought in some new talent, such as pitcher Freddy Peralta, who will start today, as well as infielders Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco, and Luke Weaver from the Yankees.
The Pirates were also busy, trading All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe for 1B/OF Ryan O’Hearn.
Here’s what you need to know about today’s matchup:
- When: March 26th, 1:15 PM ET
- Where: Citi Field, Flushing, New York
- Channel: NBC
- Streaming: DIRECTV (Try it for free)
This game marks the start of a new chapter for MLB on NBC, which plans to air over 60 games during the 2026-27 season, starting with this match.
After a day off tomorrow, both teams will jump back into a three-game series starting Friday.
Game Start Time
The ceremonial first pitch for the Pirates vs. Mets game is set for today, March 26th, at 1:15 PM ET.
Watching Pirates vs. Mets for Free
If you’re without cable, you can stream MLB Opening Day for free. Since today’s game is a national broadcast on NBC, it won’t be available on SNY.
For those who prefer watching live TV, I’d recommend DIRECTV, which offers a 5-day free trial along with various plans that include NBC. They have some affordable options like the MyNews genre pack for $39.99/month and the limited-time MySports genre pack for $44.99/month.
Starting Pitchers
Mets’ ace Freddy Peralta will be on the mound for the home team. He’s expected to make his third consecutive Opening Day start after being traded from Milwaukee. The Pirates will counter with last year’s National League Cy Young Award winner, Paul Skeens, who’s also starting for the second straight year.
