The Mets knocked out NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes in the first inning with a five-run inning and continued to add on runs from there, defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates, 11-7, on Opening Day at Citi Field.

The Mets are now 42-23 on Opening Day, the best such winning percentage in MLB.

The Mets’ new-look offense was on full display in the season opener as they made contact in key situations, worked many deep counts in critical at-bats, and produced when it counted, going 5-for-15 with runners in scoring position.

Call it an early return on David Stearns’ offseason priority to build an offense with “more competitive at-bats 1-through-9″ compared to seasons past.

With that in mind the Mets scored the first nine runs without a home run, as they had traffic on the bases all day. For the game they produced 11 hits while taking nine walks.

The Yankees opened the season with a 7-0 win over the San Francisco Giants, taking a lead early and coasting from there behind 6 shutout innings from starting pitcher Max Fried. It is New York’s fifth straight Opening Day victory.

Facing Giants ace Logan Webb, the Yankees pounced in the second inning, with six straight hits to take a 5-0 lead. Trent Grisham, playing his first game since returning to the team on a qualifying offer last winter, capped the rally with a triple.

Two more runs followed in the fifth inning, enough to raise Webb’s ERA to 10.80. His six earned runs were more than he allowed in any start in 2025.

Every member of the Yankees’ lineup finished the game with a hit, save for one. Reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts, marking the first time since 2024 that he posted that many strikeouts in a game.

The Jets are turning to their quarterback past to make it through the present. The Jets sent the Las Vegas Raiders a sixth-round pick for former Jets quarterback Geno Smith, who was originally drafted by the Jets in 2013. 

As part of the trade, Smith agreed to restructure his contract, and the Raiders are eating most of the deal. He had two years and $66 million remaining on his contract before the restructure. Now, the Raiders will pay him $16.2 million and the Jets are on the hook for $3.3 million.

Smith is the favorite to be the starter for the Jets in 2026. 

The expectation is the Jets will try to find their franchise quarterback in the 2027 draft when they have three first-round picks and the class is expected to be loaded, unlike this year. But they need to get through 2026 first, and that is where Smith’s return comes in.

Smith, 35, had one dismal season with the Raiders after finding success with the Seahawks in 2022 and 2023.