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A New Era Begins in Queens
After an offseason of significant change and a disappointing 2025 campaign, the New York Mets are back, and the energy at Citi Field is electric. Tens of thousands of fans are flooding through the gates on Thursday afternoon, ready to watch their revamped squad take on Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates . For a fanbase that hasn’t seen a World Series win in four decades, today represents a renewed sense of hope and excitement .
The Storylines to Watch
The Rookie Sensation: All eyes are on Carson Benge. The 2024 first-round draft pick has officially made the Opening Day roster and will start in right field, batting eighth . After a blistering spring training where he hit .366, the 23-year-old has “earned it,” according to manager Carlos Mendoza . Fans are eager to see if the highly touted prospect can live up to the hype on the biggest stage.
Ace vs. Ace: The pitching matchup is a must-see. The Mets will hand the ball to offseason acquisition Freddy Peralta, a two-time All-Star who went 17-6 last year . He’ll be opposed by the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, Paul Skenes, who is making his second consecutive Opening Day start for Pittsburgh . Skenes boasts a 1.97 ERA and struck out eight Mets in their first meeting back in 2024 .
The New-Look Lineup: This isn’t the same Mets team that collapsed down the stretch last year. The lineup is stacked with new faces:
- Juan Soto moves to left field after a strong first season in Flushing .
- Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco are set to make their team debuts, providing protection for Soto and Francisco Lindor .
- Marcus Semien and Luis Robert Jr. add even more firepower to a lineup built for October .
How to Follow the Action
- First Pitch: 1:15 p.m. ET
- TV: The game is being broadcast nationally on NBC and streamed on Peacock, marking the return of Major League Baseball to the network .
- Radio: Fans can listen to the legendary Howie Rose call his final Opening Day on WCBS 880 AM .
A “Home Run Kind of Day”
The baseball gods appear to be smiling on Queens. The forecast calls for a beautiful afternoon with temperatures in the 60s, a few peeks of sunshine, and a brisk south wind blowing out toward center field—perfect conditions for hitters looking to launch the first homers of the season . With a 41-23 all-time record on Opening Day—the best winning percentage in MLB history—the Mets are hoping the conditions lead to a victory .
