Yankees and Mets Face Off in Spring Training Matchup

Longtime New York rivals meet on the diamond as MLB preseason gets underway.

Feb. 22, 2026 at 6:03am

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The New York Yankees and New York Mets will square off in a spring training matchup on Sunday in Tampa, Florida. The game marks an early-season clash between the two longtime rivals as they work to shake off the rust and prepare for the upcoming MLB season.

Why it matters

Yankees-Mets games, even in the preseason, generate significant interest and excitement among baseball fans in the New York metropolitan area. The annual spring training showdown provides an early preview of the teams' potential strengths and weaknesses ahead of the regular season.

The details

The Yankees and Mets will face off at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the Yankees' spring training home. The game is scheduled to begin at 1:05 PM Eastern Time. Fans will be able to watch the game on local TV channels in the New York area as well as stream it online.

  • The Yankees-Mets spring training game will take place on Sunday, February 22, 2026.

The players

New York Yankees

One of the most successful and iconic franchises in Major League Baseball, the Yankees have won 27 World Series championships.

New York Mets

The Mets are the National League's other professional baseball team based in New York City, having joined MLB as an expansion team in 1962.

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The takeaway

This early-season matchup between the Yankees and Mets provides baseball fans in the New York area with an exciting preview of the upcoming MLB season and the potential for another thrilling chapter in the long-standing rivalry between the two teams.