Play ball!
The New York Mets won its 2026 season opener at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates Thursday.
Following the opener the Mets will continue facing off the Pirates for a weekend series.
The Mets first road game will come next week when they travel to St. Louis to face the Cardinals.
And when it comes to the perennial New York rivalry — the Subway Series — the Mets are set to host the Yankees on May 15 through the 17, and will travel to the Bronx Sept. 11 through the 13.
This season could end up being an unforgettable one for fans as it marks the last one for Howie Rose, the charismatic Mets play-by-play announcer, who will retire after this season.
The Queens native has been a part of Mets broadcasting in one way or another since 1987, calling Mets games on TV and radio since 1996. After taking over from Bob Murphy in 2004, he became the Mets’ lead voice ever since with his famous “put it in the books!” call when the Mets win a game.
In a March 19 video posted on the team’s X page, Rose said in part of his decision:
“Every season has been unique or significant in its own way,” he said in part. “This year, though, will be especially meaningful to me because 2026 will be my final season in the Mets broadcast booth. Now trust me I did not arrive at this decision to retire easily. I’ve been going back and forth in my mind over the last few years, but the simple reality is, I’m 72 years old and my wife Barbara sacrificed so much for so long deserves to have her husband around a little more often.”
Although, he is set to retire, he stresses he and the Mets will not make “a clean break.”
“Hopefully, I’ll be involved now and then in some still-to-be-determined capacity, because for me, letting go of the Mets isn’t hard, it’s impossible!”
In his video, Rose also mentioned that he will not call any road games this year until the postseason.
To check out the entire 2026 Mets schedule, click here.