The Mets begin the season Thursday afternoon at Citi Field against the Pirates, but the first surprise is not on the field: the game will not air on SNY, even as SNY still builds a full pregame and postgame plan around it.
Why is Pirates–Mets Opening Day not on SNY, yet SNY is still producing wall-to-wall coverage?
The Mets open the season at home on Thursday afternoon against the Pirates, with first pitch scheduled for 1: 15 p. m. ET. Despite the local significance of Opening Day at Citi Field, the telecast will not be on SNY. Instead, the game will air on NBC and the streaming service Peacock, with NBC and Peacock’s coverage beginning at 1 p. m. ET.
At the same time, SNY will carry a pregame show starting at noon ET and follow with postgame coverage. A separate pregame show will also start at noon ET on local station NBC 4 New York. The arrangement creates an unusual split for viewers: local programming leads into a national broadcast for the game itself, and then local programming resumes afterward.
One additional scheduling detail matters for viewers looking for the familiar home network: the first Mets game on SNY will be the second game of the season, scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
What does NBC’s broadcast plan signal about the season, and who will call Pirates–Mets?
NBC will staff the Pirates–Mets game with a booth that blends a national lead voice with figures tied directly to the teams. The announcers will be Matt Vasgersian, former Mets pitcher Al Leiter, and former Pirates and Mets infielder Neil Walker.
NBC is planning to use local analysts alongside its regular play-by-play voices this season. The network describes this as its first season with a regular baseball schedule since 2000. For Opening Day viewers, that approach is reflected immediately: the telecast combines a national presentation platform with analysts who have direct playing histories connected to both clubs.
What’s changed for the Mets entering the Pirates opener, and what is the on-field matchup?
Thursday’s Opening Day at Citi Field arrives after what was described as an “unbelievably disappointing end” to the Mets’ 2025 season. The team went from having the best record in baseball early in the year to missing the playoffs entirely.
Over the offseason, owner Steve Cohen and President of Baseball Operations David Stearns retooled most of the lineup. Several prominent players are gone: Edwin Diaz, Pete Alonso, and Brandon Nimmo.
The Mets will introduce new names, including the starting pitcher for the opener, Freddy Peralta, acquired in an offseason trade. The team is also set to feature several new infielders: Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco, and Marcus Semien.
The opponent adds a notable challenge immediately. The Mets are scheduled to face Paul Skenes, described as the reigning Cy Young Award winner. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters on Wednesday that he is excited to see the team take the field this year.
One historical note frames the day: the Mets are described as holding the best Opening Day record in all of baseball. That record will be tested right away against the Pirates in a season opener that is both a fresh start and, at least in how it is televised, a departure from what many local viewers may expect.
