About Last Night: A Grand Opening. NY 7, SF 0

About Last Night: A Grand Opening. NY 7, SF 0

By Tim Kabel

March 26, 2026

***

The Yankees opened the season in San Francisco last night. It seems that every year the season opens a little earlier. It used to open in the first week of April and sometimes even a little later than that. Now, it opens at the end of March. Opening Day is over a week before Easter and Easter is early this year. In a few years, the season may open on Groundhog Day.

For anyone who thought the Yankees might not be ready for the beginning of this season, they certainly were last night. Everyone except Aaron Judge, that is.

In case you didn't notice, when I write my game recaps this season, I will be using a freeform style, at least for now. I think it will lead to better articles. That’s the hope, anyway.

This was the first Opening Day ever on Netflix. I don't remember ever seeing a game on Netflix. I don't know that I ever want to see another one on Netflix. I could not get the game on for quite a while and was starting to worry. I was afraid I was going to have to listen to Suzyn Waldman and Dave Sims unless he had the day off. After multiple tries without success, I called Netflix. For some reason, the game would not come on because I was using my wife’s Netflix profile. I had to switch to another profile to watch the game. I'm surprised I didn't have to wear a disguise. I only missed the pregame ceremonies as it came on just as Trent Grisham was headed to the plate in the first inning.

It was a dominant game by the Yankees in every possible way. Max Fried was excellent, pitching 6.1 innings and allowing only two hits and one walk. He struck out four. Jake Bird, Brent Headrick, and Camilo Doval combined for two and 2/3 innings of scoreless ball, allowing one hit. Well, Headrick was the one who allowed the hit.

The only Yankee who did not get a hit was Aaron Judge, who struck out four times. The only two other Yankees to strike out four times on Opening Day were Giancarlo Stanton in 2022, and Oswaldo Cabrera in 2023. For those of those of you who are panicking because Judge struck out four times, (and you know who you are), stop. Just stop. Stanton and Austin Wells each had two hits. Trent Grisham and Ryan McMahon drove in two runs apiece. Jazz Chisholm had a hit and stole a base. He only has 49 to go.

A Few Tidbits:

·       Aaron Judge was hitless for the first time in in his career on Opening Day.

·       Jose Caballero became the first player to challenge a strike call against the new ABS system in the fourth inning. He lost the appeal.

·       Max Fried became just the fifth Yankees pitcher since 1969 with at least 6 1/3 shutout innings on Opening Day, joining Catfish Hunter, Ron Guidry, Rick Rhoden, and David Cone.

·       It was the first time the Yankees won a shutout on the road on Opening Day since 1967.

·       Last night was the first time Aaron Judge struck out four times in a game since September of 2024.

All in all, it was a great game for the Yankees and a wonderful way to open the 2026 season. It was the type of game that can fill you with hope and optimism. How long that will last is anyone's guess. But that's not important right now. Let's appreciate the game for what it was and be happy.

The Yankees will now have a day off before resuming the series on Friday afternoon at 4:35. Cam Schlittler will face Robbie Ray. Robbie and Cam sounds like a pop group from the 60’s. Perhaps we will see the debut of Randal Grichuk. One can only hope.