Yankees jump on Giants to win 2026 MLB season opener despite Aaron Judge's bad night

The Yankees are once again winners on Opening Day. New York beat the Giants at Oracle Park (NY 7, SF 0) on Wednesday to earn their fifth straight Opening Day win, and their eighth win on the last nine Opening Days. The Yankees hung seven runs on perennial Cy Young contender Logan Webb in only five innings. Webb did not allow seven runs in a start once last season.

Max Fried, meanwhile, settled down following a wobbly first inning, and retired 15 of the final 16 batters he faced. The Yankees scored seven runs against a great pitcher even though Aaron Judge had a rough night. New York's captain went 0 for 5 with four strikeouts and became the first ever reigning MVP to strike out four times on Opening Day.

The Yankees are 1-0 and the Giants are 0-1. The two teams have an off-day Thursday, then they'll wrap up the three-game series on Friday and Saturday.

The Yankees have a 7-0 lead and are three outs away from an Opening Day win.

The pace has certainly picked up these last few innings. The Giants had two runners on base in the seventh, their first inning with multiple baserunners since the first, but Rafael Devers flew out to center. The Yankees are three outs away from a 1-0 start.

Max Fried threw 86 pitches in 6 ⅓ shutout innings. He wobbled a bit early, but retired 15 of the final 16 batters he faced. 

After wavering with his command early, Max Fried has retired 14 of the last 15 batters he's faced. He's at 82 pitches and there were a few hard-hit balls that inning. First start of the season, off-day tomorrow to rest the bullpen, it wouldn't surprise me if Fried's done.

He's 0 for 4 with four strikeouts. It's the third four-strikeout Opening Day in Yankees' history. The rest of the Yankees are 9 for 23 (.391). It's 7-0 Yankees going to the bottom of the sixth. 

Logan Webb's night is done. Keaton Winn, who has a great splitter, is in the game for the Giants. I could see Winn working his way into manager Tony Vitello's Circle of Trust™ by the end of the season. He'll get high leverage outs for them before long.

Make it three straight hits to open the fifth inning. None of these were cheap hits either. Giancarlo Stanton smoked this at 114.4 mph. He's hit the ball hard three times tonight (and has two hits).

The Yankees pushed across the seventh run when Willy Adames spiked a throw to first base on a 3-6-3 double play attempt. Casey Schmitt couldn't make the scoop and Ben Rice scored from third base. This one is turning into a laugher now that Max Fried as settled in.

Logan Webb's has allowed seven runs for the first time since 2024, and his pitch count is approaching 80. He might not be long for this game, especially with an off-day tomorrow. The Giants can use their bullpen as much as needed knowing there's rest coming tomorrow.

Two first pitch swings produce singles to start the fifth inning. Cody Bellinger and Ben Rice put runners on the corners with no outs. The Yankees have been swinging early against Webb, and it's working.

He's 0 for 3 with three strikeouts, including one to end the fourth inning with two runners on base. The Yankees still have a 5-0 lead here because the rest of the lineup is still so dangerous.

José Caballero challenged a called strike to start the fourth inning ... and lost. The second pitch of the at-bat looked like an even more egregious called strike, but after burning one challenge, Caballero didn't bite again.

The overturn rate was 53% in spring training, though hitters were closer to 46%. Catchers were around 60%, which is consistent with Triple-A. Catchers have the best vantage point, after all.

Reminder: Teams get two challenges per game and they keep it if they're successfully. Only the hitter, catchers, and pitcher can challenge. No help from the dugouts allowed.

Been a pretty crisp game outside that five-run second inning for New York. Max Fried is starting to settle in with his command. Had a quick 1-2-3 inning in the third. Reminder: Tomorrow's an off-day. Both teams can use their bullpens aggressively, if they want.

Both teams have had opportunities to challenge pitches, but no one has done it yet. I don't know if teams are saving challenges for high leverage situations in the late innings or what, but we haven't seen one yet two and a half innings into the season.

Casey Schmitt just took a pitch to the elbow guard, though I seriously doubt that was retaliation for Jazz Chisholm Jr. last inning. Max Fried has been struggling with his command really since the start of spring training.

Logan Webb struck out Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger to limit the damage, but damage was done. Six straight Yankees reached base with one out to push across five runs. It was Webb's first five-run inning since 2023.

Six straight Yankees have reached against Logan Webb. Trent Grisham triples to right-center to score two more runs here in the second inning.

Triples are good television. They're on the decline (partly) because outfielder positioning is so, so good.

There's the season's first run. José Caballero lifts a double to left field and Giancarlo Stanton races home from second base. The Giants could've had Caballero at second base, but the throw was off-line.

Ryan McMahon followed with a ground ball single up the middle to score two runs. It's 3-0 Yankees here in the second.

Noted singles hitter Giancarlo Single singles to center, then Jazz Chisholm Jr. wears a sinker in the ribs. The Yankees have runners on first and second with one out for José Caballero, who's going to be the starting shortstop while Anthony Volpe finishes his shoulder surgery rehab. Volpe's expected back in late April/early May.

Max Fried escapes the jam by striking out Willy Adames and getting Jung Hoo Lee to roll over on a ground ball to second. One inning in, and we're still waiting for the season's first round. I'm predicting it will come in the second inning (either top or bottom, not picking a team here).

A leadoff walk, a fielder's choice, and a bloop single that Trent Grisham lost in the sun puts runners on the corners for the Giants. There's one out in the first for Willy Adames.

Logan Webb throws a fastball by Trent Grisham upstairs.

Logan Webb's first pitch is a sinker to Trent Grisham for a called strike. Here's to the next seven months of baseball! ⚾⚾⚾  

Obscure history, but history nonetheless. Heliot Ramos is the first player to start back-to-back Opening Days in left field for the Giants since Barry Bonds in 2006 and 2007. They had 17 different Opening Day left fielders in 17 years from 2008-24.

I was told first pitch would be at 8:05 p.m. ET. (They're still doing baseline introductions. Figure another 15 minutes here.)

Jazz Chisholm Jr. makes the first ABS challenge in history. No logic behind the prediction. Just vibes.

Yankees vs. Giants on Netflix on Opening Day. Just like when I was a kid.

Or, in tonight's case, Opening Night pitching matchups. Webb-Fried is high on the list. But it's not No. 1.

Ranking 2026 Opening Day starting pitcher matchups: Paul Skenes vs. Freddy Peralta tops list

Mike Axisa