MLB Opening Day 2026 live: Lineups, updates, highlights, more
Mar 26, 2026, 04:30 PM ET Happy MLB Opening Day! The 2026 season has arrived, starting with a 7-0 blowout victory for the New York Yankees over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night and continuing with season openers for the rest of MLB on Thursday and Friday. Whether it’s ace showdowns, powerhouse matchups or…
Happy MLB Opening Day!
The 2026 season has arrived, starting with a 7-0 blowout victory for the New York Yankees over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night and continuing with season openers for the rest of MLB on Thursday and Friday. Whether it’s ace showdowns, powerhouse matchups or new faces in new places you want to see, there is something for everyone.
What are we looking for as the season gets started? Here’s our takeaway from the Yankees-Giants opener and a pregame look at what you need to know for the remaining games (including each team’s initial 2026 Power Ranking and final offseason grade). We’ll also post lineups as they are announced and live updates throughout, followed by takeaways after every final pitch.
Jump to: Live updates | Lineups | Takeaways | Friday games
Live updates
Thursday games
First pitch: 4:10 p.m. ET | Pitching matchup: Garrett Crochet vs. Andrew Abbott
What to know about the Red Sox
Power ranking: 9 | Offseason grade: A
Biggest change since we saw them last: Alex Bregman has gone to the North Side of Chicago, but it was still a productive winter in Boston. The Red Sox bolstered their rotation by signing Ranger Suarez and trading for Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo and revamped their infield in deals for Willson Contreras and Caleb Durbin.
What to know about the Reds
Power ranking: 18 | Offseason grade: C-
Biggest change since we saw them last: There was a lot of talk about Kyle Schwarber joining his hometown Reds this offseason — but when Schwarber opted for a Philly return, Cincy pivoted to third baseman Eugenio Suarez, who hit 49 home runs between Arizona and Seattle last season.
Lineups
Red Sox
Roman Anthony (L) LF
Trevor Story (R) SS
Jarren Duran (L) DH
Willson Contreras (R) 1B
Caleb Durbin (R) 3B
Wilyer Abreu (L) RF
Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R) 2B
Carlos Narvaez (R) C
Ceddanne Rafaela (R) CF
Reds
TJ Friedl (L) CF
Matt McLain (R) 2B
Elly De La Cruz (S) SS
Sal Stewart (R) 1B
Eugenio Suarez (R) DH
Spencer Steer (R) LF
Tyler Stephenson (R) C
Noelvi Marte (R) RF
Ke’Bryan Hayes (R) 3B
First pitch: 4:10 p.m. ET | Pitching matchup: Jose Soriano vs. Hunter Brown
What to know about the Angels
Power ranking: 27 | Offseason grade: D
Biggest change since we saw them last: Acquired in their trade for Taylor Ward, former top prospect Grayson Rodriguez is the boom-or-bust name to know in an offseason full of pitching moves for the Angels.
What to know about the Astros
Power ranking: 13 | Offseason grade: C
Biggest change since we saw them last: You won’t see them on Opening Day with Brown the no-doubt ace of Houston’s staff, but Japanese star Tatsuya Imai and former Pirates right-hander Mike Burrows were brought in to solidify the rest of the Astros rotation.
Lineups
Angels
Zach Neto (R) SS
Mike Trout (R) CF
Nolan Schanuel (L) 1B
Jorge Soler (R) DH
Yoan Moncada (S) 3B
Jo Adell (R) RF
Josh Lowe (L) LF
Logan O’Hoppe (R) C
Oswald Peraza (R) 2B
Astros
Jose Altuve (R) 2B
Yordan Alvarez (L) DH
Isaac Paredes (R) 3B
Carlos Correa (R) SS
Joey Loperfido (L) LF
Cam Smith (R) RF
Christian Walker (R) 1B
Yainer Diaz (R) C
Jake Meyers (R) CF
First pitch: 4:10 p.m. ET | Pitching matchup: Tarik Skubal vs. Nick Pivetta
What to know about the Tigers
Power ranking: 8 | Offseason grade: A
Biggest change since we saw them last: Tarik Skubal’s future with the team — and arbitration case — dominated the headlines, but Detroit also had a strong offseason headlined by the signing of Framber Valdez, who will slot in behind Skubal in the rotation this season.
What to know about the Padres
Power ranking: 16 | Offseason grade: C-
Biggest change since we saw them last: It was an uncharacteristically quiet offseason for AJ Preller with the departures (Dylan Cease, Luis Arraez) more notable than any arrivals (Miguel Andujar, Nick Castellanos) to San Diego’s roster.
Lineups
Tigers
Kerry Carpenter (L) RF
Gleyber Torres (R) 2B
Colt Keith (L) DH
Riley Greene (L) LF
Spencer Torkelson (R) 1B
Kevin McGonigle (L) 3B
Dillon Dingler (R) C
Parker Meadows (L) CF
Javier Baez (R) SS
Padres
Fernando Tatis Jr. (R) RF
Xander Bogaerts (R) SS
Manny Machado (R) 3B
Jackson Merrill (L) CF
Miguel Andujar (R) DH
Gavin Sheets (L) 1B
Ramon Laureano (R) LF
Freddy Fermin (R) C
Jake Cronenworth (L) 2B
First pitch: 4:15 p.m. ET | Pitching matchup: Nathan Eovaldi vs. Cristopher Sanchez
What to know about the Rangers
Power ranking: 14 | Offseason grade: C+
Biggest change since we saw them last: Marcus Semien, one of the stars of Texas’ 2023 championship team, is now a New York Met in a one-for-one swap for Brandon Nimmo. But the Rangers’ offseason will ultimately be judged by how strikeout artist MacKenzie Gore performs after being acquired from the Nationals.
What to know about the Phillies
Power ranking: 5 | Offseason grade: B-
Biggest change since we saw them last: The most important thing for Phillies fans is what didn’t change since we saw the Phillies last with Kyle Schwarber’s return highlighting the winter. Meanwhile, Brad Keller joined the bullpen coming off a breakout season with the Cubs last year.
Lineups
Rangers
Brandon Nimmo (L) RF
Wyatt Langford (R) CF
Corey Seager (L) SS
Jake Burger (R) 1B
Andrew McCutchen (R) DH
Josh Jung (R) 3B
Josh Smith (L) 2B
Danny Jansen (R) C
Sam Haggerty (S) LF
Phillies
Trea Turner (R) SS
Kyle Schwarber (L) DH
Bryce Harper (L) 1B
Alec Bohm (R) 3B
Bryson Stott (L) 2B
Adolis Garcia (R) RF
Brandon Marsh (L) LF
J.T. Realmuto (R) C
Justin Crawford (L) CF
First pitch: 4:15 p.m. ET | Pitching matchup: Drew Rasmussen vs. Matthew Liberatore
What to know about the Rays
Power ranking: 21 | Offseason grade: B
Biggest change since we saw them last: This winter’s edition of the Rays’ seemingly annual tradition of trading veterans sent Brandon Lowe to Pittsburgh and Shane Baz to Baltimore. The lineup will have some new faces in Jacob Melton, Cedric Mullins and Gavin Lux.
What to know about the Cardinals
Power ranking: 26 | Offseason grade: B+
Biggest change since we saw them last: The Cardinals’ rebuild hit high gear this offseason as the front office traded Sonny Gray, Brendan Donovan, Willson Contreras and Nolan Arenado. St. Louis fans will get a glimpse at the future when top prospect JJ Wetherholt makes his debut on Opening Day.
Lineups
Rays
Yandy Diaz (D) DH
Ryan Vilade (D) LF
Jonathan Aranda (Z) 1B
Junior Caminero (D) 3B
Ben Williamson (D) 2B
Jonny DeLuca (D) RF
Nick Fortes (D) C
Cedric Mullins (Z) CF
Carson Williams (D) SS
Cardinals
JJ Wetherholt (L) 2B
Ivan Herrera (R) DH
Alec Burleson (L) 1B
Masyn Winn (R) SS
Nolan Gorman (L) 3B
Jordan Walker (R) RF
Nathan Church (L) LF
Pedro Pages (R) C
Victor Scott II (L) CF
First pitch: 8:30 p.m. ET | Pitching matchup: Zac Gallen vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto
What to know about the D-backs
Power ranking: 19 | Offseason grade: C+
Biggest change since we saw them last: After an offseason of Ketel Marte trade rumors, the Diamondbacks opted to keep their All-Star second baseman and also re-signed Opening Day starter Gallen. Though he is not the superstar he was earlier in his career, Nolan Arenado is the big-name addition here and Arizona also reunited with right-hander Merrill Kelly, a key member of the 2023 NL champion team.
What to know about the Dodgers
Power ranking: 1 | Offseason grade: A
Biggest change since we saw them last: Since we last saw the Dodgers celebrating their Game 7 World Series win, all they’ve done is go out and fill their two biggest holes (left field and closer) in the grandest fashion possible by signing Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz.
Lineups
D-backs
Ketel Marte (S) 2B
Corbin Carroll (L) RF
Geraldo Perdomo (S) SS
Gabriel Moreno (R) C
Pavin Smith (L) DH
Nolan Arenado (R) 3B
Carlos Santana (S) 1B
Alek Thomas (L) CF
Jordan Lawlar (R) LF
Dodgers
Shohei Ohtani (L) DH
Kyle Tucker (L) RF
Mookie Betts (R) SS
Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
Will Smith (R) C
Max Muncy (L) 3B
Teoscar Hernandez (R) LF
Andy Pages (R) CF
Miguel Rojas (R) 2B
First pitch: 10:10 p.m. ET | Pitching matchup: Tanner Bibee vs. Logan Gilbert
What to know about the Guardians
Power ranking: 20 | Offseason grade: D+
Biggest change since we saw them last: N/A. Coming off a surprising AL Central title run, it was a very quiet winter in Cleveland.
What to know about the Mariners
Power ranking: 2 | Offseason grade: A-
Biggest change since we saw them last: After their 2026 ended one win shy of the first World Series appearance in franchise history, the Mariners made a late-offseason splash when they traded for versatile infielder Brendan Donovan.
Lineups
Guardians
TBD
Mariners
Brendan Donovan (L) 3B
Cal Raleigh (S) C
Julio Rodriguez (R) CF
Josh Naylor (L) 1B
Randy Arozarena (R) LF
Luke Raley (L) RF
Dominic Canzone (L) DH
Cole Young (L) 2B
Leo Rivas (S) SS
Takeaways
That’s not how anyone envisioned Paul Skenes launching his Cy Young Award defense. An unusual lack of execution combined with misfortune and terrible defense behind him produced the worst start of Skenes’ young career. The right-hander gave up five runs on four hits, a walk and a hit batter over just two-thirds of an inning. The Mets’ first two hits were a bloop single and a swinging bunt, but they made Skenes work. New York fouled off 10 of his 37 pitches and, outside of Carson Benge‘s strikeout on three whiffs in his first career plate appearance, swung through just two. And yet Skenes would’ve escaped the trouble had center fielder Oneil Cruz not botched back-to-back routine plays, which led to four runs instead of the end of the inning. If Cruz makes those plays, Skenes gets through the inning and could’ve rebounded. But he wasn’t sharp and it cost him. — Jorge Castillo
It has become something close to a legal obligation to assess the Yankees’ offseason by using the words run it back. But lost in the implied criticism of the team’s offseason, which included no splashy additions, is this: The guys they’re running it back with are pretty good.
In the first game of the 2026 season, a stand-alone spectacle at Oracle Park that was long on pomp and short on suspense, Max Fried cruised through 6⅓ innings, allowing just two hits and one runner past first base, as the Yankees beat the Giants and made rookie manager Tony Vitello’s debut one he’ll probably want to forget.
Vitello became the first person to go directly from college head coach to big league manager, and Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey made the out-of-the-box decision in part to inject the former Tennessee head coach’s unique brand of energy and intensity into a team that has hovered around .500 for the past four seasons. But a pitcher like Fried can sap the energy of even the most rabid group, and with him on the mound, the Yankees’ five-run second inning made the outcome all but inevitable. — Tim Keown
Friday games
First pitch: 7:07 p.m. ET | Pitching matchup: Luis Severino vs. Kevin Gausman
What to know about the Athletics
Power ranking: 23 | Offseason grade: D
Biggest change since we saw them last: It wasn’t the splashiest offseason for the Athletics, but their biggest move was adding veteran Jeff McNeil to their already-promising lineup in a trade with the Mets.
What to know about the Blue Jays
Power ranking: 4 | Offseason grade: B+
Biggest change since we saw them last: The Blue Jays showed they’re serious about getting back to the World Series after their crushing Game 7 loss to the Dodgers when they lavished top free agent starter Dylan Cease with a seven-year, $210 million deal.
First pitch: 7:15 p.m. ET | Pitching matchup: Kyle Freeland vs. Sandy Alcantara
What to know about the Rockies
Power ranking: 30 | Offseason grade: C-
Biggest change since we saw them last: It’s a whole new ballgame for the Rockies, who turned their baseball operations department over to former Cleveland Browns (yes, you read that right) exec Paul DePodesta.
What to know about the Marlins
Power ranking: 25 | Offseason grade: C+
Biggest change since we saw them last: Acquired in an offseason trade with the Cubs for starter Edward Cabrera, Owen Caissie is an outfielder with the kind of offensive upside the Marlins have been craving.
First pitch: 7:15 p.m. ET | Pitching matchup: Cole Ragans vs. Chris Sale
What to know about the Royals
Power ranking: 15 | Offseason grade: C
Biggest change since we saw them last: You won’t see it until they head to K.C. for their home opener, but the Royals’ most notable offseason change came when they decided to move the fences in at Kauffman Stadium.
What to know about the Braves
Power ranking: 10 | Offseason grade: B+
Biggest change since we saw them last: Mike Yastrzemski was originally signed as a fourth outfielder in a busy offseason for the Braves, but his role became even more important when Jurickson Profar was suspended for the entire 2026 season after his second positive PED test.
