Cincinnati Reds Lose Tradition of Opening MLB Season

The Reds no longer have the honor of playing the first game of the MLB season.

Mar. 23, 2026 at 11:21am

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For much of the 20th century, the Cincinnati Reds were the first team to play each new MLB season. However, this tradition has faded in recent years as the league looks to feature more marquee matchups and teams from larger markets for the opening game.

Why it matters

The Reds' loss of their Opening Day tradition is symbolic of the team's declining national profile, even as the city of Cincinnati continues to treat the annual home opener as a cherished local holiday.

The details

The Reds will open the 2026 season on Thursday, playing the Boston Red Sox at 4:10 pm ET, rather than being the sole focus of the league's first game. MLB has moved away from this tradition in order to showcase more high-profile teams and matchups to start the year, which the small-market Reds no longer fit.

  • The Cincinnati Reds were traditionally the first team to play each new MLB season for much of the 20th century.
  • This year, the first game of the 2026 MLB season will be a standalone matchup between the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night, broadcast on Netflix.

The players

Cincinnati Reds

One of the original professional baseball franchises, the Reds have a long history of hosting the first game of the MLB season.

MLB

The league has moved away from the tradition of having the Reds play the first game, instead opting for more high-profile matchups and teams from larger markets to start the season.

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The takeaway

The Reds' loss of their Opening Day tradition is a symbolic shift, as the small-market team no longer fits the league's desire for a marquee first game of the season. However, the city of Cincinnati will continue to embrace the annual home opener as a cherished local tradition, even if the Reds are no longer the sole focus of MLB's season-opening festivities.