Marlins reschedule 2026 Opening Day

[Ely Sussman]

Using a built-in off-day from their original 2026 regular season schedule, the Miami Marlins announced on Tuesday that their Opening Day matchup against the Colorado Rockies has been moved from March 26 to March 27. Just like all of the club's other Friday home games, first pitch will be at 7:10 p.m. The dates and start times for the other two games of the series remain the same.

This news comes nearly a month after the Marlins began selling single-game tickets. They had to wait for approval from Major League Baseball before finalizing the change.

Opening Day always draws one of the Marlins' largest crowds of the season. The team anticipates less congestion around loanDepot park for a 7:10 p.m. game compared to a 4:10 p.m. game; each of the past three years, they have hosted 4:10 p.m. openers. Another byproduct of the later start time is the game will end long after the sun sets, allowing for a postgame fireworks show.

The biggest benefit to the Marlins is maximizing attendance and local television viewership. Needless to say, a higher percentage of people will be available for a Friday night game than a Thursday afternoon game.

The Marlins have an awful 2-9 record over their last 11 Opening Day games, though they defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in walk-off fashion on March 27, 2025. Perhaps superstitious folks can appreciate that this date change perfectly aligns the 2026 opener with that fond memory.

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