MLB released the 2026 schedule for all teams on Tuesday, and the Yankees schedule is full of some fun matchups, and is also super balanced for the first time in a long time. Below I break down the schedule by month with some analysis. Nothing is foolproof as teams who are expected to be successful fall off and others exceed expectations.

The Yankees will open up the 2025 regular season on the road in San Francisco taking on Rafael Devers and the Giants. The first game will break an MLB-record for earliest regular-season start date for a non-specialty matchup (ex: Japan Series). MLB is calling the first game “opening night” — so it will presumably be a late-night game here in New York on prime-time TV.

I also heard that March in San Francisco is a really nice time of year for a picnic, perhaps in Ghiradelli Square.

The Yankees will get a scrappy Marlins team in town for their 2026 home opener, setting the stage for an intriguing clash between two clubs built very differently. While New York enters the season with big expectations and a star-studded roster, Miami has earned a reputation for playing with grit, relying on young talent, speed, and timely pitching to grind out wins against bigger-market opponents. The Marlins’ ability to frustrate teams with their aggressive style and knack for capitalizing on mistakes makes them a dangerous early test, especially in a high-energy setting like Opening Day at Yankee Stadium. For the Yankees, it won’t just be about showcasing their firepower, but proving they can match the Marlins’ hustle and intensity right out of the gate.

The Yankees will be heading down to Tampa to take on their division rivals in what marks their first divisional series of the season, but there’s still some uncertainty surrounding the venue. While last year’s unique decision to rent out George M. Steinbrenner Field provided a nostalgic backdrop and created plenty of buzz, the organization has already clarified that it was a one-time arrangement rather than a recurring plan. That leaves open the question of where this year’s matchup will be held—whether at a neutral site, within the Rays’ facilities, or another temporary ballpark option altogether. The ambiguity adds an extra layer of intrigue to an already important early-season series, as fans and players alike await confirmation of where the latest chapter in the division rivalry will unfold.

The Yankees will head to Fenway Park from April 21st–23rd for the start of a three-game set and a nine-game road trip against the hated Red Sox, a matchup that always carries extra weight regardless of the standings. The trip marks an early-season litmus test for New York, as the atmosphere in Boston tends to bring out the intensity of the rivalry and often magnifies the club’s strengths and weaknesses. With the Red Sox eager to defend home turf and the Yankees looking to establish momentum before continuing their extended road swing, this series has the potential to set the tone for both teams heading deeper into the spring.

The Yankees will head across the river to Queens for the first leg of the Subway Series, a matchup that always carries extra weight beyond the standings. The intensity of this rivalry lies not only in city bragging rights but also in the electric atmosphere created by fans who split their loyalties between the Bronx and Queens. For the Yankees, this series provides a chance to reset momentum and test themselves against a Mets team eager to spoil their season. For the players, it’s more than just another interleague series—it’s a stage where every at-bat, every pitch, and every play will be magnified under the spotlight of New York City’s baseball stage.

The hated Blue Jays come to town for a four-game set in May, and while it’s still early in the season, the matchup already carries significant weight. Toronto has been a thorn in the Yankees’ side for years, and these head-to-head battles often feel like more than just regular-season games—they can shape the momentum and tone for the months ahead. A strong showing by New York could provide a boost of confidence and establish an early edge in the AL East, but dropping the series at home would only fuel doubts about the team’s ability to handle divisional rivals. With the standings often decided by razor-thin margins, these May games could loom large when September rolls around.

June is shaping up to be one of the most challenging stretches on the Yankees’ 2025 calendar, with a brutal slate of divisional and playoff-caliber opponents lined up back-to-back. The team will face the Guardians twice in home-and-home series, square off with Boston twice—including a daunting four-game road set at Fenway—travel to Toronto, and see Detroit both at Yankee Stadium and on the road. On paper, this schedule not only tests the Yankees’ depth and resilience but also magnifies their recent struggles in June, a month that has historically derailed their momentum. While the silver lining is that they’ll get many of these high-pressure matchups out of the way early in the summer, the timing couldn’t be worse: another June slump could sink their divisional standing and put them in a hole that will be difficult to climb out of later in the season.m.

To open up the second half, the Yankees will face the Los Angeles Dodgers at Yankee Stadium in a marquee matchup that doubles as a rematch of the 2024 World Series. The series carries significant weight, not only as a renewal of one of baseball’s most storied interleague rivalries, but also as a litmus test for how prepared New York is to reset after the All-Star break. Both teams come in with high expectations and rosters loaded with star power, setting the stage for a playoff-like atmosphere in the Bronx. With lingering memories of last October still fresh, the Yankees will be eager to make a statement against the reigning National League powerhouse, while the Dodgers will look to reassert their dominance and prove last year’s triumph was no fluke. This clash promises intensity, drama, and a postseason feel, making it a fitting way to kick off the stretch run.

The Yankees will spend an entire week in Chicago, starting with a four-game set against the struggling White Sox before shifting north for a three-game series against the Cubs at iconic Wrigley Field. For fans, this stretch offers an ideal travel opportunity—two different ballparks, two very different atmospheres, and plenty of baseball packed into seven days. The South Side provides a chance to see the Yankees potentially rack up wins against a rebuilding White Sox team, while Wrigley offers a classic backdrop steeped in baseball tradition. Between the history of Wrigley, the intensity of Yankee road fans, and the accessibility of catching multiple games in one city, this trip feels tailor-made for anyone looking to combine a summer getaway with a memorable week of baseball.

The Yankees will face one of their toughest stretches of the season at the end of August, with a pivotal homestand against the Blue Jays, Astros, and Red Sox—all potential postseason contenders. This sequence of games is not only a major test of New York’s depth and resilience but could also play a decisive role in shaping the American League playoff picture. Each opponent brings a different challenge: the Blue Jays’ power-driven lineup, the Astros’ postseason experience, and the Red Sox’s fierce divisional rivalry, all of which will demand sharp pitching, disciplined at-bats, and strong in-game adjustments from Aaron Boone’s club. With playoff positioning on the line and the margin for error shrinking, this stretch at Yankee Stadium could serve as a defining moment in the Yankees’ 2025 campaign.

The Yankees will play a three-game set against the Mets at Yankee Stadium over the weekend of September 11th to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the attacks of September 11th. This series will carry a deeper meaning beyond the usual Subway Series rivalry, as it serves as a tribute to the resilience of New York City and honors the lives lost in the tragic events of 2001. Both teams are expected to take part in ceremonies that reflect the unity and strength the city displayed in the aftermath of the attacks, with fans, players, and organizations alike joining in remembrance. The anniversary not only provides a moment to look back on history but also highlights how baseball played a role in healing the city in the weeks following 9/11, making this weekend matchup especially significant.

The Yankees will close out their 2025 regular season at Yankee Stadium with six critical games against division rivals, the Tampa Bay Rays and the Baltimore Orioles. This stretch could prove pivotal for playoff positioning, as both opponents are likely to be battling for postseason spots of their own. Facing the Rays’ consistent pitching depth and the Orioles’ young, power-driven lineup, New York will be tested in all facets of the game. Ending the year at home provides an advantage, but the margin for error will be slim, and the Yankees’ ability to perform in high-pressure divisional matchups could determine whether they enter October with momentum or face disappointment.