Pirates vs. Mets Opening Day Game 1: TV Channel, Streaming & Probable Pitchers – March 26
Oneil Cruz & Juan Soto (Photos by Imagn)

Pirates vs Mets: The New York Mets will kickstart their 2026 campaign with a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field starting on March 26. Both teams missed out on the playoffs in the National League last year, even though they were poles apart in terms of payroll.

The Mets were in charge of the NL East standings after getting off to an excellent start to the 2025 season. Yet, they somehow crumbled in the last months of the campaign and eventually finished in third spot in their division with an 83-79 record.

The Pirates, on the other hand, were never in contention for a postseason berth. The franchise now holds the longest playoff drought in the NL, stretching back to 2015. With a 71-91 record, finished at the bottom of the Central Division for the fifth time in seven years.

Where To Watch Pirates vs. Mets Opening Day Game?

  • Date: Thursday, March 26
  • Time: 1:15 p.m. ET
  • Stadium: Citi Field in New York, NY
  • TV: NBC
  • Live stream: Peacock

Pirates vs. Mets Probable Starting Pitchers

Paul Skenes
Paul Skenes (Image Credits: Imagn)

Paul Skenes will be the Opening Day starter for the Pittsburgh Pirates, even though they are on the road. The 23-year-old followed up his dominant rookie campaign to win the NL Cy Young Award last year. Skenes pitched 187.2 innings last year over 32 starts with a 1.97 ERA and 216 strikeouts.

Freddy Peralta was confirmed as the starting pitcher for the New York Mets in their home opener of the new campaign. The 30-year-old right-hander is the ace of his new team following a trade deal from the Milwaukee Brewers. Peralta posted the best campaign of his MLB career in 2025 with a 17-6 record and 2.70 ERA to finish fifth in the NL Cy Young race.

Pirates vs. Mets Probable Lineups

Francisco Lindor
Francisco Lindor (Image Credits: Imagn)

Last year, the Pittsburgh Pirates had the worst offensive production among all MLB teams, but they have taken steps to fix the issue this winter. Spencer Horowitz and Bryan Reynolds were the two best hitters of the team from last year. The signings of Brandon Lowe, Marcell Ozuna, and Ryan O’Hearn add some much-needed thump to their lineup.

Meanwhile, the batting order looks quite different for the New York Mets this year, with several mainstays leaving the team in the offseason. Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto are still there at the top of their lineup. The additions of Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien, Bo Bichette, and Luis Robert Jr. arguably make them a more dynamic lineup.

On paper, the Mets will obviously start as the clear favorites in this contest. But the Pirates have a strong pitching staff, so this should be a pretty even contest on the field.



Pirates vs. Mets Opening Day Game 1: TV Channel, Streaming & Probable Pitchers – March 26
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