The Daily Briefing — Thursday, March 26
By Morgan Davis · Thu Mar 26 2026
MLB’s 2026 season opened last night in San Francisco with the Yankees visiting the Giants at Oracle Park in a made-for-streaming spectacle that aired exclusively on Netflix in continuation of the league’s new media era. The broadcast leaned heavily into cinematic production with sweeping drone shots gliding over the bay and around the ballpark, repeatedly framing the game against the San Francisco skyline and waterfront to emphasize the unique setting and event feel. The Yankees dominated the opener, shutting out the Giants 7–0 behind a strong outing from Max Fried , who fired 6.1 scoreless innings and retired 15 of 16 at one point to headline the good for New York . Giancarlo Stanton set the tone with multiple run-producing hits, while José Caballero , Ryan McMahon and Trent Grisham fueled the five-run second inning that effectively decided the game, even as Aaron Judge had a rough night with an 0-for-5 line and four strikeouts. On the Giants’ side, Logan Webb was tagged for seven runs, including that disastrous second, and the San Francisco offense managed only three hits, leaving the home crowd with little to cheer aside from some late defensive flashes. Quick Hits Jeremiah Jackson 's first Opening Day is really happening. The 25-year-old utility infielder was the final position player to secure a spot on the Orioles' 26-man roster, beating out veteran options with a strong spring that included a .314 batting average and .848 OPS over 13 exhibition games. He'll serve as the primary backup at second base with Jackson Holliday out and pencil in around the infield and outfield when needed. The Orioles' bullpen additions are equally noteworthy: relievers Anthony Nunez , Yaramil Hiraldo , and Grant Wolfram all made the team. Nunez, in particular, is a true rookie making his big league debut; Hiraldo and Wolfram give the team length and experience in an otherwise thin relief corps. Jackson Holliday is headed to Norfolk, but not yet. The Orioles formally announced Wednesday that the 22-year-old shortstop will begin a rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Norfolk, taking on the Nashville Sounds in the Tides' home opener. Holliday underwent surgery in early February to repair a fractured hamate bone in his right hand and missed all of spring training. The fact he's getting on the field so quickly is a positive sign; he's eligible to come off the injured list as soon as April 1. Heston Kjerstad 's spring got worse. The former consensus top 100 prospect was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain, ending any conversation about him making the Opening Day roster. Kjerstad was already a long shot given his struggles in camp, but the timing is brutal. He remains talented; he simply hasn't shown it at the big league level yet. Stat of the Day Coby Mayo hit .378 across 15 spring training games for the Orioles, carrying his momentum into Opening Day as the team's third baseman with Jordan Westburg sidelined. That's a solid spring performance and a glimmer of hope that his MLB line of .201/.285/.349 over limited time the last two seasons was just a rough start. Mayo is positioned to get meaningful at bats immediately given the injuries surrounding him, and he's coming in hot. Looking Ahead Most of the rest of MLB gets underway today with 11 games. You'll find last year's Cy Young winners Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal both on the bump. Triple-A Opening Day arrives Friday, and the prospect landscape shifts into high gear.