MLB Opening Day 2026: How to watch the Pittsburgh Pirates vs. New York Mets Game 1, streaming info and more

With spring training and the World Baseball Classic finally over, Opening Day in the MLB has arrived. One of the matchups we can’t wait to see on Thursday is the New York Mets vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, which will feature two of the league’s top pitchers; Cy Young winner Paul Skenes is taking the mound for the Pirates, and newly-acquired Freddy Peralta will pitch for the Mets. The three-game series between the teams will take place entirely at Citi Field in New York, with two more games on Saturday and Sunday. (The Pirates’ home opener won’t be till April 3 when they host the Baltimore Orioles.)

You can watch Thursday’s season opener live on NBC and Peacock, and the weekend games will be broadcast regionally on SNY and SportsNet Pittsburgh, as well as on MLB.TV. Here’s what you need to know to tune in to the Pittsburgh vs. New York opening week series.

How to watch Game 1 of the Pittsburgh Pirates vs. New York Mets series

Dates: March 26

Times: 1:15 p.m.

Location: Citi Field, Queens, NY

Channels: NBC

Streaming: Peacock, DirecTV, YouTube TV, and more

When is the Pirates vs. Mets series?

MLB Opening Day for the Mets and Pirates is Thursday, March 26. The first pitch will be thrown at 1:15 p.m. ET.

The three-game series will resume on Saturday, March 28, at 4:10 p.m. ET and conclude on Sunday, March 29, at 1:40 p.m. ET. All three games will take place at Citi Field in New York.

What channels will the Pirates vs. Mets series be on?

Thursday’s Opening Day game will air on NBC. Saturday and Sunday’s games will be available locally on SportsNet Pittsburgh and SNY.

How to watch the Pirates vs. Mets series without cable

Thursday’s Pirates vs. Mets game streams on Peacock, as well as on platforms like DirecTV and YouTube TV. Saturday and Sunday’s games are available on regional sports networks SportsNet Pittsburgh and SNY which are also available on DirecTV and YouTube TV, or if you’re out of market, you can watch on MLB.TV.

For $11/month, an ad-supported Peacock Premium subscription lets you stream live sports and events airing on NBC, including MLB games. Plus, you’ll get access to thousands of hours of shows and movies, including beloved sitcoms such as Parks and Recreation and The Office, every Bravo show and much more.

For $17/month, you can upgrade to an ad-free Premium Plus subscription, which includes live access to your local NBC affiliate (not just during designated sports and events) and the ability to download select titles to watch offline.

An MLB.TV subscription is a great way to catch all your favorite teams’ out-of-market games live. 

New MLB.TV subscriptions are available through the ESPN App. New subscribers who purchase MLB.TV must do so through the ESPN App and are required to sign up for a 1-month free trial of ESPN Unlimited in order to sign up for MLB.TV. After 1 month, ESPN auto-renews at $29.99/month, or you can cancel the trial at any time. ESPN is not required to maintain an MLB.TV subscription. 

Existing ESPN Unlimited subscribers have the opportunity to add an MLB.TV subscription in 2026 for $134.99 per season, down from $149.99. Monthly subscription options are also available for $29.99, with new subscribers eligible for a free month of ESPN Unlimited.

But there is another way to get MLB.TV without ESPN — and get it free to boot if you use T-Mobile. Eligible T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, 5G Home Internet, Fiber and Small Business customers can score a free MLB.TV subscription! You need to redeem the offer in the T Life app between March 24 and 30. 

2026 MLB Opening Week schedule

All times Eastern

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

• New York vs. San Francisco: 8:05 p.m. (Netflix)

Thursday, March 26, 2026

• Pittsburgh vs. New York: 1:15 p.m. (MLB.TV, NBC, Peacock)

• Chicago vs. Milwaukee: 2:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Washington vs. Chicago: 2:20 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Minnesota vs. Baltimore: 3:05 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Boston vs. Cincinnati: 4:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Los Angeles vs. Houston: 4:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Detroit vs. San Diego: 4:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Texas vs. Philadelphia: 4:15 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Tampa Bay vs. St. Louis: 4:15 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Arizona vs. Los Angeles: 8:30 p.m. (MLB.TV, NBC, Peacock)

• Cleveland vs. Seattle: 10:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

Friday, March 27, 2026

• New York vs. San Francisco: 4:35 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Athletics vs. Toronto: 7:07 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Colorado vs. Miami: 7:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Kansas City vs. Atlanta: 7:15 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Los Angeles vs. Houston: 8:10 p.m. (MLB.TV, Apple TV+)

• Cleveland vs. Seattle: 9:40 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Detroit vs. San Diego: 9:40 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Arizona vs. Los Angeles: 10:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

Saturday, March 28, 2026

• Tampa Bay vs. St. Louis: 2:15 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Washington vs. Chicago: 2:20 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Athletics vs. Toronto: 3:07 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Minnesota vs. Baltimore: 4:05 p.m. (MLB.TV, FS1)

• Texas vs. Philadelphia: 4:05 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Boston vs. Cincinnati: 4:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Colorado vs. Miami: 4:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Pittsburgh vs. New York: 4:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Los Angeles vs. Houston: 7:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Chicago vs. Milwaukee: 7:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Kansas City vs. Atlanta: 7:15 p.m. (MLB.TV, FOX)

• New York vs. San Francisco: 7:15 p.m. (MLB.TV, FOX)

• Detroit vs. San Diego: 8:40 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Arizona vs. Los Angeles: 9:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Cleveland vs. Seattle: 9:40 p.m. (MLB.TV)

Sunday, March 29, 2026

• Kansas City vs. Atlanta: 1:35 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Minnesota vs. Baltimore: 1:35 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Texas vs. Philadelphia: 1:35 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Athletics vs. Toronto: 1:37 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Boston vs. Cincinnati: 1:40 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Colorado vs. Miami: 1:40 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Pittsburgh vs. New York: 1:40 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Los Angeles vs. Houston: 2:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Chicago vs. Milwaukee: 2:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Tampa Bay vs. St. Louis: 2:15 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Washington vs. Chicago: 2:20 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Cleveland vs. Seattle: 7:20 p.m. (Peacock)