How to watch New York Mets vs. Pittsburgh Pirates 2026 Opening Day game
The Mets and Pirates will open the 2026 Major League Baseball season in Queens.
Following Wednesday’s 7-0 shutout by the New York Yankees against the San Francisco Giants, the full and proper Major League Baseball Opening Day will get underway in Queens on Thursday, March 26. On Thursday afternoon, the New York Mets will welcome the Pittsburgh Pirates to Citi Field to kick off more than seven months of baseball action. First pitch is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on NBC. You can watch the action with up to a 21-day free trial to YouTube TV or with a subscription to Peacock.
How to watch New York Mets vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Opening Day
- When: Thursday, March 26, 2026 at 1:15 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC
- Stream: Watch with up to a 21-day free trial to YouTube TV or Peacock.
- From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a VPN.
Everything you need to know to stream Mets vs. Pirates:
New customers can save $15 per month for 5 months.
Why we recommend YouTube TV to watch Mets vs. Pirates
YouTube TV is our favorite way to stream Opening Day on NBC. This service is currently offering new subscribers an incredible 21-day free trial, one of the longest free-viewing windows you will ever see a live TV streaming service offer. NBC is included for customers in nearly every market in the United States, and the YouTube TV package carries more than 90 popular channels overall.
Once the trial ends, the largest live TV streamer is offering a limited-time discount that allows viewers to pay just $60 per month for their first two months of service. The length of YouTube TV’s free trial, its balanced channel package, and the introductory discounts make it hard to recommend another streamer as the top choice for watching Opening Day and all of the MLB season on NBC.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service with more than 60 channels for $82.99/month. This plan includes local channels 32 of the top 35 cable channels, and regional sports networks (RSNs) in select markets. The base plan includes more than 100 live channels, including major broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, as well as popular cable channels such as ESPN, CNN, FX, USA Network, and TNT. Local channels are included in most markets, making YouTube TV a full replacement for traditional cable for many viewers.
Can you watch Mets vs. Pirates for free?
If you are just looking for a streaming service to watch this specific game and nothing else, there are options available for you. DIRECTV, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV all offer free trials, but they vary in length, so be wary. We already mentioned YouTube TV’s three-week trial, while DIRECTV’s trial runs for five days, and Hulu + Live TV’s is a solid three days.
If you are looking to watch the game for free, I would recommend YouTube TV, because that streamer has the longest free trial and also throws in a great discount thereafter.
| DIRECTV | Fubo | Hulu | Philo | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free 3-Day Trial | Free Trial | Save with Sling | Free Trial | |||||
| $20.99 | $9.99 | $28.99 | $25 | $19.99 | $29.99 | $45.99 | $45.99 | $64.99 | ||
| NBC | + $19 | + $11 | + $61 | - | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
What are all of the streamers you can use to watch the Mets vs. Pirates game?
Fortunately for baseball fans, there are six different streaming services that will stream the game, so you have options to choose from if you don’t already subscribe to any of them. We discussed YouTube TV and the free trial options above, but there is one more, and it offers a different type of streaming arrangement.
In addition to the live TV streaming options, since the game is being broadcast on NBC, you will be able to stream it on Peacock’s two Premium tiers. Peacock Premium runs $11 per month while Premium Plus comes with additional features for $17 monthly.
Ultimately, there are tons of different ways to stream the game, and while we recommend YouTube TV as the best way to stream this game, you have plenty of options to find the platform that meets your needs.
Peacock
Peacock is a subscription video streaming service from NBCUniversal that includes original shows, blockbuster movies, and classic television series. Peacock is home to “Yellowstone,” “The Office,” and original hits like “Poker Face” and “Bel-Air.” You can also watch live sports and NBC programming, including the NFL, MLB, WWE, the Olympics, the Premier League, NASCAR, the French Open, college football and basketball, and the PGA Tour. Premium Plus subscribers can stream their local NBC feed in all 210 markets.
Watch a preview of the 2026 MLB Season
How to watch Mets vs. Pirates from anywhere
If you’ll be away from home and can’t watch the game as you normally would, you can still catch all of the action no matter where you are in the world with a VPN. A VPN can be used on your phone, tablet, or computer and make you appear to be back home — even when you’re not — making sure you feel at home no matter where you are. A VPN is a safe and secure way to stay protected online while streaming your favorite sports, movies, and shows on the go. Keep in mind that you will still need to be subscribed to a live TV streaming like YouTube TV in order to stream the game with a VPN.

ExpressVPN is one of the best providers around, at one of the best prices. Currently, you can get a month of service for as little as $5. ExpressVPN is the most-trusted VPN on the market and comes with a 30-day, money-back guarantee. ExpressVPN has servers in 105 countries, best-in-class encryption, 24-hour live support, and the best speeds available.
While ExpressVPN is our recommendation for the best VPN to use while you are traveling, there are a number of other high-quality options available depending on what you are looking for.
- Most Secure: NordVPN | Starting at $3.09 per month
- Best Budget Option: Surfshark | Starting at $2.50 per month
- Best Free Option: Proton VPN | Free plan available
