Major League Baseball opens its 2026 regular season on Thursday, March 26, with a full slate highlighted by the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers at home and a string of nationally available streams on MLB.TV and Fubo. These Opening Day matchups set early storylines — title defense, a Phillies bid to keep their streak alive and a Cardinals rebuild that will be watched closely.

When, where and how to watch

All three games below are available out of market via MLB.TV and can be streamed through Fubo (which offers a free trial). Regional restrictions apply; local telecasts will still carry some games.

  • Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers — Thursday, March 26, 8:30 PM ET — NBC, MLB.TV (stream via Fubo)
  • Texas Rangers at Philadelphia Phillies — Thursday, March 26, 4:00 PM ET — Rangers Sports Network, MLB.TV (stream via Fubo)
  • Tampa Bay Rays at St. Louis Cardinals — Thursday, March 26, 4:00 PM ET — MLB.TV (stream via Fubo)

Key matchups and what’s new

Dodgers vs Diamondbacks: Los Angeles opens the season at Dodger Stadium as the reigning World Series champions and again fields one of baseball’s priciest, veteran lineups after adding outfielder Kyle Tucker. Arizona, still chasing a first division title since 2011, brought in veteran bats including Nolan Arenado and Carlos Santana to bolster its offense. Expect a national spotlight and plenty of pressure on the Dodgers to repeat.

Rangers vs Phillies

Philadelphia returns a roster built for contention — keeping Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto while adding Adolis Garcia — and opens with Cristopher Sanchez on the mound. Sanchez, coming off a season that left him among the NL’s top pitchers, draws the start vs. Texas right-hander Nathan Eovaldi. The Rangers begin the season with a new manager, Skip Schumaker, and notable offseason moves such as trading for MacKenzie Gore and acquiring Brandon Nimmo.

Rays vs Cardinals

St. Louis begins a rebuild at Busch Stadium and will showcase top prospect JJ Wetherholt on Opening Day. The Cardinals traded several veterans over the winter — including Nolan Arenado — and added inexpensive pitching depth like Dustin May. Tampa Bay, back in its home ballpark after a temporary move last season, starts Drew Rasmussen, while the Rays look to bounce back with additions such as Steven Matz and Nick Martinez.

Why it matters

Opening Day often sets narratives that follow teams for months. The Dodgers are under the microscope as defending champions, the Phillies aim for a fifth straight postseason appearance, and the Cardinals’ youth movement will be monitored to see if prospects like Wetherholt can accelerate a rebuild. Early-season rotations and how new acquisitions perform will shape trade and roster decisions before the summer deadline.

Fan and social buzz

Expect heavy social media attention on the Dodgers’ title defense and on prospects making their big-league debuts. With multiple national broadcast windows and MLB.TV availability, out-of-market fans can watch coverage via Fubo’s MLB.TV bundle, though local blackouts may apply.

What’s next

Games continue across the league after Opening Day; watch how starting rotations settle and which new faces make immediate impacts. For viewers, MLB.TV and Fubo remain the primary ways to stream out-of-market matchups throughout the season.