MLB Opening Day and Season Preview, Schedule and More
Baseball is back and NBC is playing two on Opening Day. Here's the schedule, along with a season preview and how to watch the most MLB with Sling.
Nothing says Spring like the return of Major League Baseball and after a long, cold winter, the 2026 MLB season gets underway with a full slate of games on Thursday, March 26. That includes a pair of games on NBC, which will broadcast MLB games for the first time in 25 years. Netflix is also getting in on the game, with an Opening Night game on March 25, followed by coverage of the Home Run Derby, and the “Field of Dreams” game between the Phillies and Twins on Aug. 13.
Check out our Opening Day and season preview below the schedule of upcoming nationally televised games on Sling. To watch the most MLB Baseball with Sling, use the link below to subscribe to Sling Orange + Blue with the Sports Extras pack!
MLB Baseball - Nationally Televised Games
To watch the most MLB Baseball with Sling, subscribe to Sling Orange + Blue with Sports Extras. Or add MLB.TV to your subscription to watch all out-of-market games!
2026 MLB Opening Day Preview
https://youtu.be/t-EQTnVRJB8?si=wvTZPi235GPWipW9
NBC throws out the first pitch of its 2026 MLB coverage with the first game of the day, as Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes begins his Cy Young title defense as the Pirates travel to the Big Apple to take on the World Series hopeful New York Mets. That game is scheduled for 1:15pm ET on NBC. In the night game, defending back-to-back champion Los Angeles Dodgers will raise their banner at Dodgers stadium as they open their season against NL West rival Arizona Diamondbacks. That game is scheduled to begin at 8:30pm ET on NBC.
As for the other 18 MLB teams playing on Opening Day, you can watch every one of those out-of-market games with a subscription to MLB.TV. Follow this link for more information subscribing to MLB.TV with Sling.
How to Watch MLB Games with Sling
In addition to MLB.TV and NBC (which will air 27 primetime games and 34 afternoon games this season, including Sunday Night Baseball), nationally televised MLB games will be available on the following networks:
FOX (Sling Select and Blue in Designated Markets)
While the schedule varies week-to-week, FOX games typically air on Thursday night, Saturday afternoon, and/ or Saturday night. FOX will also be the home of the 2026 World Series and All-Star Game.
FS1 (Sling Select and Sling Blue)
As a sister channel to FOX, FS1 typically airs games on Saturday afternoons, Monday nights, and Wednesday nights.
TBS (Sling Orange or Blue)
TBS will have a weekly MLB game on Tuesday nights. It will also be home to the ALDS and ALCS in the lead up to the World Series.
MLB Network (Sports Extras Pack)
MLB Network will also have multiple games weekly, mostly on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights.
Streaming Channels
For even more MLB baseball, subscribe to Apple TV+ for a Friday night game (or two), and Netflix will have the Opening Night game between the Yankees and Giants, the Home Run Derby, and “Field of Dreams” game. Peacock will also have a handful of exclusive games.
To watch the most MLB Baseball with Sling, use the link below to subscribe to Sling Orange + Blue with the Sports Extras pack!
2026 MLB Season Preview
https://youtu.be/6A6rxra3iqI?si=6jeOIIgMihil0DP3
2026 MLB Season Preview: A Quest for a Three-Peat
The 2026 MLB season arrives with a singular, towering question: Can anyone topple the Los Angeles Dodgers? After securing back-to-back titles in one of the most exciting World Series in years, the Dodgers enter the year as heavy favorites to achieve the first "three-peat" since the 1998–2000 Yankees (DraftKings gives them +230 odds; the Yankees are next at +1000). With Shohei Ohtani expected to return to full two-way dominance and Freddie Freeman remaining a model of consistency, the road to the championship once again runs through Chavez Ravine.
Superstar Storylines
Individual greatness remains the heartbeat of the MLB. In the American League, Aaron Judge continues his assault on history, entering the season within striking distance of 400 career home runs. Meanwhile, Bobby Witt Jr. has ascended to true "five-tool" status in Kansas City, with many experts predicting this as his breakthrough MVP year. In the National League, all eyes are on Braves outfielder (and recent WBC winner) Ronald Acuña Jr. as he looks to reestablish his status as the game’s most dynamic leadoff threat following his recovery from injury, while the Pirates’ Paul Skenes enters the year as arguably the most feared arm in baseball.
The Most Competitive Races
While the Dodgers may cruise in the West, other divisions are absolute gauntlets:
- AL East: The Toronto Blue Jays, fresh off a near-miss in the 2025 World Series, are neck-and-neck with the New York Yankees. Both teams boast elite rotations and MVP-caliber anchors in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Judge.
- NL Central: This is the league’s "wild west." The Chicago Cubs have built a deep, well-rounded roster, but they face a fierce challenge from a surging Cincinnati Reds squad and a Pittsburgh Pirates team led by a generational pitching core.
- AL Central: The Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals have finally turned the corner, creating a legitimate two-horse race that could come down to the final weekend in September.
The Blockbuster Signings
- Kyle Tucker (Los Angeles Dodgers): Surprise, surprise: the defending champions flexed their financial muscle yet again, landing the elite outfielder on a four-year, $240 million contract to bolster their "three-peat" bid. According to Spotrac, the Dodgers payroll for the 2026 season is just shy of $400 million.
- Alex Bregman (Chicago Cubs): The Cubs secured their new franchise cornerstone with a five-year, $175 million deal for the former Astro, bringing championship experience to the North Side.
- Dylan Cease (Toronto Blue Jays): Looking to solidify their rotation, the Blue Jays signed the right-hander to a massive seven-year, $210 million contract, the latest free-agent contract in team history.
- Pete Alonso (Baltimore Orioles): "Polar Bear" Pete is headed to Camden Yards on a five-year, $155 million deal, providing a massive power boost to a young Orioles core.
- Kyle Schwarber (Philadelphia Phillies): After an MVP-caliber 2025, Schwarber stayed put in Philly, re-signing for five years and $150 million.
- Bo Bichette (New York Mets): In another major splash, the Mets signed the star shortstop to a three-year, $126 million deal after the former Blue Jay hit the open market.
- Munetaka Murakami (Chicago White Sox): The 26-year-old Japanese phenom made his highly anticipated jump to MLB, signing a two-year, $34 million deal with the South Siders.
Major Trades
- Freddy Peralta (Brewers to Mets): The Mets continued their aggressive overhaul by acquiring the frontline starter from Milwaukee.
- Marcus Semien & Brandon Nimmo (Rangers/Mets Swap): In a rare "star-for-star" swap, the Mets acquired the veteran Semien, while Nimmo headed to Texas.
- Nolan Arenado (Cardinals to Diamondbacks): The future Hall of Famer returned to the NL West to provide veteran leadership for a young Arizona squad.
- Sonny Gray & Willson Contreras (Cardinals to Red Sox): Boston aggressively raided the Cardinals' roster, acquiring both the veteran righty and the slugging catcher.
- Shane Baz (Rays to Orioles): Baltimore reinforced their pitching staff by landing the high-ceiling right-hander from their division rivals.