MLB opening day pitching matchups: Who's on the mound for each team?

The 2026 MLB season is upon us, with every team harboring dreams of October celebrations on the horizon.

The journey begins on opening day as each team puts its best foot (or in this case, arm) forward in an effort to get off to the coveted 1-0 start the New York Yankees achieved on Wednesday night.

Here is a look at the pitchers who have earned the honor of being their team's opening day starter. Some are established veterans with plenty of experience in the role. Others are getting the call for the first time. And still others are being thrust into the maelstrom due to injuries or other complications.

No matter the circumstances, the feeling is the same. Let's play ball!

2026 opening day starting pitchers

Here's the schedule for the first full day of the 2026 MLB season, with each team's opening day starting pitcher in parentheses. Six teams don't play their openers until Friday, so that schedule is included as well.

Thursday, March 26

All times Eastern

• Pittsburgh Pirates (Paul Skenes) at New York Mets (Freddy Peralta), 1:15 p.m. – BUY TICKETS
• Chicago White Sox (Shane Smith) at Milwaukee Brewers (Jacob Misiorowski), 2:10 p.m. – BUY TICKETS
• Washington Nationals (Cade Cavalli) at Chicago Cubs (Matthew Boyd), 2:20 p.m. – BUY TICKETS
• Minnesota Twins (Joe Ryan) at Baltimore Orioles (Trevor Rogers), 3:05 p.m. – BUY TICKETS
• Boston Red Sox (Garrett Crochet) at Cincinnati Reds (Andrew Abbott), 4:10 p.m. – BUY TICKETS
• Los Angeles Angels (Jose Soriano) at Houston Astros (Hunter Brown), 4:10 p.m. – BUY TICKETS
• Detroit Tigers (Tarik Skubal) at San Diego Padres (Nick Pivetta), 4:10 p.m. – BUY TICKETS
• Texas Rangers (Nathan Eovaldi) at Philadelphia Phillies (Cristopher Sanchez), 4:15 p.m. – BUY TICKETS

• Tampa Bay Rays (Drew Rasmussen) at St. Louis Cardinals (Matthew Liberatore), 4:15 p.m. – BUY TICKETS
• Arizona Diamondbacks (Zac Gallen) at Los Angeles Dodgers (Yoshinobu Yamamoto), 8:30 p.m. – BUY TICKETS
• Cleveland Guardians (Tanner Bibee) at Seattle Mariners (Logan Gilbert), 10:10 p.m. – BUY TICKETS

Friday, March 27

• New York Yankees at San Francisco Giants (4:35 p.m.)
• Athletics (Luis Severino) at Toronto Blue Jays (Kevin Gausman), 7:07 p.m.
• Colorado Rockies (Kyle Freeland) at Miami Marlins (Sandy Alcantara), 7:10 p.m.
• Kansas City Royals (Cole Ragans) at Atlanta Braves (Chris Sale), 7:15 p.m.
• Angels at Astros (8:10 p.m.)
• Tigers at Padres (9:40 p.m.)
• Guardians at Mariners (9:40 p.m.)
• Diamondbacks at Dodgers (10:10 p.m.)