If you’re staring at your phone or clicking through your TV guide trying to figure out what time does the giants game start, you’ve probably realized that being a "Giants fan" is a bit of a double-edged sword. Are we talking about Big Blue—the New York Giants—navigating the post-season or draft prep? Or are you looking for the San Francisco Giants as they gear up for the humidity of Scottsdale and the start of Spring Training?
Honestly, it's a mess if you don't know where to look.
Right now, as of mid-January 2026, we are in that weird seasonal overlap. The NFL regular season just wrapped up on January 4th, and the MLB is just weeks away from hearing the first "crack" of a bat in Arizona. If you're looking for a game today, January 15, 2026, the short answer is: there isn't one. But the long answer involves a lot of dates you need to circle on your calendar immediately.
Breaking Down the New York Giants Schedule
Let’s be real: the New York Giants' season didn't go exactly as planned. They finished up their 2025-2026 run with a 1 p.m. ET kickoff against the Dallas Cowboys back on January 4. Because they didn't make the playoff cut this year, they aren't playing in the Divisional Round this weekend.
Instead of checking the clock for a kickoff, fans are checking the draft board. The Giants officially hold the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. While you won't find them on your TV this Sunday, the "game" has moved to the front office.
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What about the 2026 Season?
The NFL won't release the official "what time does the giants game start" list for every week until May. That’s when the league does its big schedule reveal. However, we already know who they’re playing. If you’re planning travel for next fall, keep an eye on these matchups:
- Home Games at MetLife: Dallas, Philly, Washington (obviously), plus the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers.
- Road Trips: They’ll be heading to Seattle, the L.A. Rams, and Indianapolis.
The move to a 17-game season means the schedule is a bit lopsided, but expect those standard 1 p.m. ET Sunday starts for the majority of the home slate, unless the NFL flexes them into a night game.
San Francisco Giants: Spring Training Is Closer Than You Think
If you’re a baseball fan, the answer to what time does the giants game start is much more exciting. We are less than six weeks away from the first pitch of the 2026 preseason.
The San Francisco Giants are scheduled to report to Scottsdale, Arizona, in early February. Their first actual game of the year is Saturday, February 21, 2026. They’ll be taking on the Seattle Mariners at the Peoria Sports Complex.
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Key Spring Training Times (MST/Arizona Time)
- Feb 21 @ Mariners: 1:10 p.m.
- Feb 22 vs. Cubs: 1:05 p.m. (The first home game at Scottsdale Stadium!)
- Feb 23 vs. Athletics: 1:05 p.m.
- March 4 vs. Mariners: 7:05 p.m. (A rare night game in the desert).
Most of these games start right around 1 p.m. local time, which is perfect for sitting in the grass with a hot dog, but a bit of a headache for East Coast fans trying to catch the broadcast at 3 or 4 p.m.
The Big Opening Day Milestone
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, March 25, 2026. This is the big one. The San Francisco Giants will host the New York Yankees at Oracle Park for Opening Day.
The game is set to start at 8:05 p.m. PT.
It's a night game, which is a bit of a departure from the traditional afternoon openers, but the atmosphere in San Francisco is going to be electric. If you're looking for tickets, SeatGeek and other secondary markets already have them listed, though they’re definitely not cheap.
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Why Kickoff and First Pitch Times Change
You might notice that even when a time is listed, it "sorta" changes. For the NFL, the "flex scheduling" rule is a nightmare for fans who like to plan ahead. Basically, the NFL can move a Sunday afternoon game to Sunday night with just 12 days' notice (or 6 days in the final weeks).
In baseball, the weather is the big culprit. A "1:05 p.m." start at Oracle Park might turn into a 2:30 p.m. start if the fog or rain rolls in off the cove.
Time Zone Confusion
Always double-check your time zone. Arizona doesn't do Daylight Saving Time. This means that during Spring Training, Scottsdale is technically on Mountain Standard Time, but they’re at the same time as Pacific Daylight Time once the rest of the country "springs forward." It’s confusing. I get it.
Actionable Steps for Giants Fans
Since there isn't a game to watch at this exact moment, here is how you can stay prepared for when the season actually kicks off:
- Download the Team Apps: Both the MLB "Ballpark" app and the "Giants Mobile" app for the NFL allow you to sync the schedule directly to your Google or Apple Calendar. This automatically adjusts for your local time zone.
- Check the Broadcast Map: For the NFL, 506 Sports is the best resource. They release maps every Wednesday during the season showing which parts of the country will actually see the Giants game on their local FOX or CBS affiliate.
- Set Alerts for the NFL Schedule Release: This usually happens the second week of May. That is the only time you will get the definitive answer for every single regular-season game time.
- Spring Training Travel: If you’re heading to Scottsdale, book your hotels now. January is when prices start to skyrocket for those February and March dates.
Whether you're waiting for the draft or waiting for the first pitch in Arizona, the question of what time does the giants game start will be much easier to answer in just a few short weeks. Keep an eye on the official team sites as we move closer to February 21.