If you're asking what time yankees play, you aren't just looking for a number on a clock. You’re trying to plan your life around the Bronx Bombers. Maybe you're trying to figure out if you can catch the first few innings at a bar in Midtown before the train ride home, or perhaps you're sitting in a different time zone entirely, wondering if you need to set an alarm for 1:00 AM.
Honestly, the rhythm of a Yankees season is its own kind of heartbeat. Right now, as we sit in mid-January 2026, the crack of the bat is still a few weeks away, but the blueprint is already set. We know exactly where they’ll be and when the first pitch is scheduled for almost every single day of the year.
The 2026 Kickoff: Opening Night and the Road Ahead
The 2026 season is actually doing something pretty cool. Instead of the usual midday chaos, the Yankees are helping launch the entire MLB season with a standalone Opening Night game. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
They’re playing the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Because it’s a West Coast game, East Coast fans are going to have to stay up. The first pitch is slated for 8:05 PM ET. If you’re in New York, that’s a perfect "dinner and a game" situation. If you’re actually in San Francisco, you’re looking at a 5:05 PM local start—just in time for that gorgeous Bay Area sunset to hit the bricks of the stadium.
After that late-night opener, they get a weird Thursday off. It’s like the league wants us to catch our breath before the real grind starts. On Friday, March 27, they’re back at it in San Francisco with a 4:35 PM ET start. Then, the road trip continues into Seattle. If you’re wondering what time yankees play during that Mariners series, be prepared for some late ones. We’re talking 9:40 PM ET starts on March 30 and 31. It’s tough on the sleep schedule, but that’s the price of being a fan of a team that travels the world.
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When Do the Yankees Play at Home?
The Home Opener is the real holiday in the Bronx. This year, it’s Friday, April 3, 2026. The Miami Marlins are coming to town.
Traditionally, the home opener is a day game, and 2026 is no different. The start time is 1:35 PM ET. There’s something special about that mid-afternoon light at Yankee Stadium in early April. It’s usually still a bit crisp, you’ve got the light jacket on, and the atmosphere is electric.
For the rest of the homestand against the Marlins and the Athletics:
- Saturday, April 4: 7:05 PM ET
- Sunday, April 5: 1:35 PM ET
- Tuesday, April 7: 7:05 PM ET
- Wednesday, April 8: 7:05 PM ET
- Thursday, April 9: 1:35 PM ET
You’ll notice a pattern here. Most weeknight games in the Bronx start at 7:05 PM. It’s the standard. Sunday games are almost always 1:35 PM, unless ESPN decides to flex them into the Sunday Night Baseball slot.
Watch Out for the National Broadcasts
Speaking of ESPN and NBC, television schedules can mess with the "usual" times. For example, on June 28, 2026, the Yankees are at Fenway Park to face the Red Sox. That’s been picked up for a national broadcast, so the start time is 7:00 PM ET.
Later in the summer, July 19 against the Dodgers and July 26 against the Phillies are also 7:00 PM ET starts on NBC/Peacock. If you’re looking for the game on the YES Network and can’t find it, check the national listings. These high-profile matchups are the ones most likely to see time shifts.
Spring Training: The February Warm-up
Before the games actually "count," we have Spring Training in Tampa. If you’re headed down to George M. Steinbrenner Field, the times are much more consistent.
Most of the home Spring Training games start at 1:05 PM ET. It’s baseball in the sun, exactly how it was meant to be. The very first exhibition game is February 20 at the Baltimore Orioles (Ed Smith Stadium) at 1:05 PM. The home opener in Tampa is the next day, February 21, against the Detroit Tigers, also at 1:05 PM.
There is one outlier in the early spring schedule: Wednesday, February 25. The Yankees play the Washington Nationals at home in Tampa, but it’s a night game with a 6:35 PM ET start. It’s a fun change of pace if you’re on vacation and want to do something other than sit on the beach all afternoon.
Why Do the Times Change?
It’s easy to get frustrated when you check what time yankees play and see a 12:35 PM start on a Wednesday. Why so early?
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Usually, it’s a "getaway day." If the Yankees are finishing a series at home and have to fly to, say, Houston or Chicago for a game the next night, the league schedules an early afternoon start. This ensures the players can get on a plane and get to the next city at a reasonable hour. For example, on Thursday, May 7, 2026, the Yankees play the Texas Rangers at 12:35 PM ET. It's a classic getaway day move.
Regional Rivalries and the Subway Series
The Subway Series against the Mets is always a circus. In 2026, the first leg is at Citi Field from May 15-17. The second leg is even more significant. It’s at Yankee Stadium from September 11-13, marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
While the exact times for the September series will be locked in closer to the date, expect 7:05 PM starts for the Friday and Saturday games, with a potential Sunday night spotlight. These games are high-demand, high-intensity, and often run a bit longer than your average Tuesday night game against the Royals.
Actionable Steps for the 2026 Season
If you want to stay on top of the schedule without constantly Googling, here is what you should do:
- Sync the Calendar: Go to the official MLB Yankees website and use the "Add to Calendar" feature. It syncs directly with Google, Apple, or Outlook and updates automatically if there's a rain delay or a time change.
- Download the Ballpark App: This is the best way to get real-time notifications about "First Pitch" times and any last-minute delays.
- Check the Weather: Especially for those 1:35 PM April games in New York. A 40-degree day with wind feels a lot colder in the bleachers than it does in the sun.
- Plan for the West Coast: If you're an East Coast fan, prepare for those late March/early April games in San Francisco and Seattle. Stock up on coffee; those 9:40 PM starts won't end until nearly 1:00 AM.
- Verify the Broadcaster: Remember that Peacock, Apple TV+, and ESPN can take games away from YES Network. Always check the "TV" column on the schedule about 24 hours before the game.
Knowing what time yankees play is the first step to being part of the season's narrative. Whether it's a sleepy Wednesday afternoon at the Stadium or a high-stakes Sunday night in Boston, the clock starts the moment the pitcher toes the rubber. Grab your hat, check the time, and get ready for 162 games of chaos.