Opening Day is special. It feels like a sign of spring and of hope. And that's where the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates find themselves on Thursday afternoon when they match up in a game televised nationally on NBC.

The Mets begin their 2026 MLB season against the Pirates at 1:15 p.m. ET from Citi Field. NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes will be on the mound for the Pirates against Freddy Peralta, who will be making his first regular-season Mets start.

NEW YORK (AP) — Brett Baty laced a bases-loaded triple and the New York Mets chased Paul Skenes in the first inning of his worst major league start, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-7 on Thursday in their season opener at Citi Field.

Follow 2026 MLB Opening Day live updates from Thursday, March 26th, with real-time highlights, scores, results and stats as they happen including Mets vs Pirates, Dodgers vs Diamondbacks on NBC and Peacock!

Carson Benge made MLB history during his debut on Thursday between the Pirates and Mets at Citi Field in New York.

A flag was raised, an indomitable ace and a star-studded lineup collided and 24 more teams got their 2026 seasons underway on Opening Day.

A promising season opener is worth virtually nothing. One out of 162 is the equivalent of about 17.8 seconds of an NBA game. The Mets will not score 11 runs per game and knock out every opposing starter in the first inning.

The New York Mets scored 11 runs on Opening Day, chasing Paul Skenes early en route to defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field.