“Top 10 Must-Do Actions Before Opening Day”
The 2026 Major League Baseball season opens in roughly 48 hours. The San Francisco Giants host the New York Yankees at Oracle Park on Wednesday. The team then gets the customary Day 2 off on Thursday.
Below are ten must-do actions to complete ahead of Opening Day. Follow this checklist to enjoy the season from the couch or the ballpark.
Food, drink and viewing setup
Stock your fridge and pantry with classic baseball foods and drinks. Include hot dogs, garlic fries, peanuts, Cracker Jack, Dippin’ Dots, frozen lemonade, and sunflower seeds.
Confirm streaming access before first pitch. Opening Day will stream on Netflix. A Saturday game moves to FOX. Upcoming matchups may require Apple TV and local services like NBC Sports Bay Area.
Read and research
Pick up Alex Pavlovic’s book, The Franchise: San Francisco Giants: A Curated History of the Orange and Black. Most Bay Area bookstores within 50 miles of the ballpark should stock it.
Pavlovic conducted extensive interviews. The book offers new stories and background on the franchise.
Subscriptions and coverage
Check your streaming logins now. Avoid scrambling at game time to enter verification codes.
- Local and national broadcasters: Netflix, FOX, NBC Sports Bay Area.
- Beat writers and longform coverage: Susan Slusser, Shayna Rubin at the San Francisco Chronicle; Andrew Baggarly and Grant Brisbee at The Athletic; Justice delos Santos at the Mercury News; Kerry Crowley at the SF Standard.
- Prospect and minor league coverage: Roger Munter’s newsletter, Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus.
- Analytics and tools: Fangraphs.
Filmogaz.com remains a free source for team coverage if you prefer not to subscribe.
Track former players and build a second team
Check where familiar faces landed this season. Kyle Harrison opens in the Milwaukee Brewers rotation. Mike Yastrzemski spent spring with the Atlanta Braves and hit .400/.526/.900 in that sample.
Mason Black pitched for the Kansas City Royals but begins the year in Triple-A. Marco Luciano was optioned to Double-A in the New York Yankees system. Wilmer Flores signed to play in Mexico.
Choose a second team to watch on off days. The author follows the Houston Astros and recommends the Seattle Mariners for west-coast scheduling and a young core led by Julio Rodríguez.
Gear and rituals
Inspect your cap, jersey, and other memorabilia. Hats can change fit after haircuts or time in storage.
Lay out game-day clothing, clean your lucky items, and prepare any tailgate or couch rituals you value.
Brush up on the lingo
Refresh common statistics and terms used in broadcasts and analysis. Expect references to OPS, WHIP, FIP, WAR, and wRC+.
More advanced metrics like xwOBA and IVB will appear in podcasts and analytics pieces. A basic primer helps the broadcast make more sense.
Know the roster
Familiarize yourself with the projected Opening Day roster and depth chart. Fangraphs’ RosterResource is a useful tool for this.
Learn the likely starters and relief options. Knowing the names enhances the viewing experience during April and beyond.
Make bold predictions
Now is the time for season projections. Post them publicly or save them for later comparison.
- Sample predictions to spark ideas: Patrick Bailey hits 20 homers, the Giants win the World Series, Casey Schmitt becomes an All-Star closer.
Get outside and play
Take a ball and mitt and toss with a friend or family member. Stand in the sun and smell the grass before the schedule takes over.
Expect some soreness. A few Advil can help after throwing 20 heaters at 45 mph.
Final note
These quick steps will enhance your Opening Day and the season ahead. Complete the checklist, settle into your viewing plan, and enjoy the first pitch at Oracle Park.
