The 9 MLB Teams That Have Historically Played Best On Opening Day

Opening Day is one of the most anticipated events in US professional sports. To some, it’s an unofficial holiday that kickstarts the summer.

MLB teams make their debuts with nothing but hope for the future. Every club starts the year with an identical 0-0 record. Anything can happen!

A few teams are more familiar than others with starting their seasons on a positive note. In more cases than not, they’ve improved to 1-0 when the festivities conclude.

9 MLB teams with the best Opening Day records.

A win in Game 1 is not indicative of a successful campaign. The baseball season is long. There are still 161 games to follow. It is, however, a step in the right direction.

Here, we’ll identify the clubs that most frequently win their first matchups. These teams have the best winning percentages on Opening Day in MLB history.

9. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates have played 139 openers in their franchise’s history, with the first coming in 1887. Pittsburgh won that National League debut with a victory over the rival Cubs.

In total, the team is 74-65 on Opening Day. It dropped its first game of the 2025 season but still boasts a winning percentage of .532.

They’ll face the Mets in their 2026 opener with Paul Skenes on the bump.

8. Tampa Bay Rays

Tampa Bay has far less experience in season openers than the previously mentioned Pirates. The franchise is just 28 years old.

That has not prevented success. In their 28 tries, they’ve won 15 games for a winning percentage of .536.

The Rays will open the 2026 season on the road against the Cardinals after winning last year’s debut over the Colorado Rockies.

7. San Francisco Giants

The Giants are one of the most recognized brands in Major League Baseball. They are no strangers to hot starts when it comes to Opening Day success.

In 2025, they picked up a win over the Cincinnati Reds to improve to 77-65-1 across 143 all-time openers. Their .542 overall win percentage is seventh-best in league history.

This year, they’ll face the New York Yankees in the very first game of the MLB season.

6. Chicago Cubs

The Cubs have often found success elusive, once experiencing a championship drought that spanned longer than a century. With that being said, they’ve often kicked the year off on a positive note.

Chicago has a winning percentage of .547 across 150 openers. Their 81 Opening Day victories are the most in league history.

In 2025, the team opened up with a loss. It will look to get back on track in 2026 when facing the Washington Nationals.

5. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers, like many of the teams mentioned before them, have deep MLB roots with a long and storied past. As a result, they’ve played in more season openers than most.

Los Angeles is 75-60-1 across 136 Opening Day performances. That’s good for a winning percentage of .556.

The franchise won its 2025 opener against the Cubs, which was followed by seven subsequent victories en route to a World Series title.

The Dodgers will open the 2026 campaign against the rival Diamondbacks.

4. New York Yankees

The Yankees are baseball’s most recognized and most successful franchise. The Bronx Bombers have seen that success play out on Opening Day.

New York has gone 70-52-1 in its 123 season openers, boasting a win percentage of .574. That is good for fourth all-time.

The franchise won its 2025 opener against the Brewers as part of a series sweep. They’ll look to continue the winning ways in 2026 with the first game coming against the Giants.

3. Baltimore Orioles

In the AL East, the Yankees and Red Sox typically rule the roost. Neither has a better Opening Day winning percentage than the Baltimore Orioles.

The O’s have played in 125 season openers dating back to 1901. In those meetings, they’ve posted an overall record of 74-50-1 for a winning percentage of .597.

Baltimore won its 2025 debut against division rival Toronto. In 2026, they’ll square off against the Minnesota Twins.

2. Seattle Mariners

Seattle is not as old of a franchise as most others on this list. Still, its proven to be a feared Opening Day opponent for league rivals.

The Mariners have only been in existence since 1977. That’s given them 49 Opening Day opportunities in their relatively short history.

Seattle is 30-19 in those contests with a winning percentage of .612, making it one of just two franchises to top a 60% success rate.

In 2025, the team beat the A’s to kickstart an AL West championship run. In 2026, they’ll open the year against Cleveland.

1. New York Mets

The Mets own the league’s top Opening Day winning percentage at .641. No other team is more successful in season debuts.

New York is 41-23 across 64 all-time openers. They win nearly two-thirds of the time. That comes despite having lost the first eight Opening Day tries.

Since 1970, the Mets are 41-15 in debuts. The success rate was even higher entering the 2025 campaign before a loss to the Astros.

They’ll look to get back in the win column in 2026 when facing the Pirates.