What to know about Pirates-Mets Opening Day (Thurs., 1:15 p.m. ET)

NEW YORK -- For obvious reasons, neither the Mets nor the Pirates were satisfied with how the 2025 season unfolded. A promising start to New York’s campaign turned ugly when the team collapsed in the second half, finishing a game out of the playoffs. Meanwhile, an all-everything performance from Paul Skenes wasn’t enough to lift Pittsburg out of last place in the National League Central.

Following an active offseason, both clubs are back hoping to do a little better this time around. For the Mets, that means claiming the NL East for their own after more than a decade of ceding it to the Nationals, Braves and Phillies. For the Pirates, it means making a run at a playoff spot of their own.

For both teams, it all starts Thursday on Opening Day, with Skenes set to oppose another top NL pitcher, offseason trade acquisition Freddy Peralta, at Citi Field. That pitching matchup alone should make this one of the most anticipated games on MLB’s Opening Day schedule.

When is the game, and how can I watch it?
First pitch is set for 1:15 p.m. ET on Thursday. Fans can watch the game on MLB.TV, MLB.com, NBC or Peacock; or listen to it on Audacy Mets Radio (WHSQ 880AM) or on the Audacy App (92.3 HD2). For Mets fans, note that this game won’t be on SNY.

All out-of-market games are available live or on demand in the US on MLB.TV (subject to blackouts and other restrictions). Live games are also available in select countries outside the US. A full list of available games can be found here.

Who are the starting pitchers?
Pirates: Skenes’ 1.97 ERA last season was lower than any other Pirates starter since at least 1920, and the defending NL Cy Young Award winner displayed his usual laser focus and attention to routine this spring -- and during the World Baseball Classic -- to make sure he’ll hit the gate running in Flushing.

Skenes has handled the Mets well in his brief career, going 1–0 with a 2.08 ERA and 14 strikeouts across two starts. He fanned eight Mets during their first meeting, in 2024, to set the Major League record for most seven-plus-strikeout outings within a player’s first 10 career games..

• Pirates-Mets Opening Day starters: Skenes vs. Peralta

Mets: Lacking an experienced ace atop their rotation, the Mets acquired one in January in the form of Peralta (17-6, 2.70 ERA), a two-time All-Star coming off the best season of his career. Given Peralta’s resume, the Mets naturally then tabbed him as their Opening Day starter.

“As soon as we acquired him, it was pretty clear that he was going to be pitching at the front of our rotation,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He earned it. He’s done it. I’m excited, and we are all excited.”

Peralta has had little trouble with the Pirates over the years, holding them to a 3.36 career ERA in 25 appearances -- his most against any team. He was 2-0 against them in three starts last season.

What might the starting lineups look like?
Pirates: Pittsburgh ended last season with an MLB-low 583 runs scored, and the front office took its boost-the-offense assignment seriously this season, adding several proven bats to the mix. As such, the Bucs’ projected lineup leans heavily on a new-look middle of the order, with Oneil Cruz setting the tone up top and a veteran-laden group behind him.

1. Oneil Cruz, CF
2. Brandon Lowe, 2B
3. Bryan Reynolds, LF
4. Marcell Ozuna, DH
5. Ryan O'Hearn, RF
6. Spencer Horwitz, 1B
7. Nick Gonzales, 3B
8. Jared Triolo, SS
9. Henry Davis, C

Mets: The only question here is how Mendoza will line things up after his top four hitters, who are essentially set in stone. This lineup card figures to be fluid in early-season games, but for Opening Day purposes, the following nine players should start against the right-handed Skenes.

1. Francisco Lindor, SS
2. Juan Soto, LF
3. Bo Bichette, 3B
4. Jorge Polanco, 1B
5. Luis Robert Jr., CF
6. Brett Baty, DH
7. Marcus Semien, 2B
8. Carson Benge, RF
9. Francisco Alvarez, C

How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Pirates: Mason Montgomery and newcomer Gregory Soto are the lone lefties in the ’pen, with righties Justin Lawrence, Isaac Mattson and Yohan Ramírez slotting in as well. José Urquidy and Hunter Barco will be counted on to provide bulk roles, although manager Don Kelly also said either -- or both -- could also start at some point if the situation calls. Dennis Santana, who converted 16 saves in 19 chances last season, returns as the team’s closer.

Mets: With Edwin Díaz gone to Los Angeles, the Mets will introduce a new closer in Devin Williams. If the team has a lead before the ninth inning, right-handed setup man Luke Weaver and lefty Brooks Raley will be Mendoza’s go-to relievers. Look for offseason acquisitions Luis García and Tobias Myers to play important roles as well, along with returnee Huascar Brazobán. He and Myers will be capable of giving the Mets multiple innings on Opening Day if necessary.

Any injuries of note?
Pirates: None.

Mets: One of the most pressing Spring Training questions surrounded the health of Lindor, who underwent surgery to remove the hamate bone in his left hand on Feb. 11. Lindor progressed steadily throughout camp, however, and is ostensibly a healthy player now -- even if many players say it can take additional time for power to come back following this type of operation.

The other notable Mets injury is left-handed reliever A.J. Minter, who will miss about the first month of the season in his continued recovery from left lat surgery.

Who is hot and who is not?
Pirates: O’Hearn had eight RBIs and four extra-base hits -- including a pair of homers -- among his first 11 Grapefruit League games with the Bucs. … Cruz hit .538 (7-for-13) with three RBIs and three steals in five spring games before joining Team Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. There, he mashed two home runs, one of which traveled a Statcast-projected 450 feet.

Mets: Benge probably would have made the Opening Day roster even if Mike Tauchman hadn’t suffered a late-spring injury, as the Mets’ No. 2 prospect and No. 16 overall prospect flirted with a .400 batting average for most of camp. Newcomers Bichette and Polanco also looked strong in Grapefruit League play. On the other side of things, Mark Vientos finished 2-for-35 (.057) in Spring Training despite one of the better hard-hit rates in the game.

Anything else fans might want to know?
• Soto will debut in left field for the Mets after spending his first season in Flushing as the starting right fielder. The team moved Soto in part to accommodate Benge, who features one of the best throwing arms of any Mets position player. Soto previously played left field on a full-time basis for the Padres in 2023, and for the Nationals from 2018-20.

• Skenes is only the second pitcher to win the NL Rookie of the Year and NL Cy Young Awards in consecutive seasons. The first? Dwight Gooden for the Mets in 1984 and ‘85.

• With construction already starting around Citi Field as foundations are laid for Metropolitan Park, a new entertainment district that will take root in years to come, the Mets are offering several new parking initiatives to reduce congestion. Fans can now prepay for parking in the MLB Ballpark app and receive discounts for public transportation or off-site parking.