New York, N.Y. — The 2026 Major League Baseball season begins Wednesday with an Opening Night matchup between the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants, followed by a full Opening Day slate Thursday featuring the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Six primary accounts informed this report: AP News, Reuters, Fox Sports, NBC Sports, CBS Sports, and USA Today.
- The Yankees and Giants will play the season opener Wednesday at Oracle Park in San Francisco, exclusively streaming on Netflix with first pitch at 8:05 PM ET, the earliest domestic Opening Day in MLB history.
- The full Opening Day slate Thursday includes 26 teams playing their first games, highlighted by the defending champion Dodgers hosting the Arizona Diamondbacks at 8:30 PM ET on NBC and Peacock.
- The Dodgers are seeking a third consecutive World Series title, a feat last accomplished by the 1998-2000 New York Yankees.
- Major League Baseball returns to NBC Sports for the first time since 2000, with regular season coverage including Sunday Night Baseball and an Opening Day doubleheader.
Additional Details Reported
ESPN will begin its MLB coverage on April 15 with the Dodgers hosting the Mets on Jackie Robinson Day. The network will feature frequent appearances by both the Yankees and Dodgers throughout the season. Fox Sports will kick off its Baseball Night in America coverage on Saturday, March 28, with the Yankees facing the Giants.
The 2026 season will also feature the World Baseball Classic in March 2027, with MLB taking a break from July 20-23 to accommodate the international tournament. Fox Sports will broadcast the All-Star Game on July 14.
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