2026 Cardinals Opening Day Details

2026 OPENING DAY IN ST. LOUIS – SCHEDULE & DETAILS

Cardinals to Open Season Against Tampa Bay Rays at 3:15 PM

Gates Open at 12:00 PM & Pregame Ceremonies Begin at 2:30 PM

ST. LOUIS, Mo., March 24, 2026 – A pregame ceremony that introduces the 2026 St. Louis Cardinals, honors the club’s Hall of Famers and celebrates the great tradition of Opening Day in St. Louis will highlight the annual return of baseball at Busch Stadium on Thursday, March 26.

The Cardinals will open the 2026 season at Busch Stadium against the Tampa Bay Rays at 3:15 PM CT.  Fans are encouraged to arrive early in order to enjoy all the pregame ceremonies. An Opening Day timeline and schedule information can be found below and at cardinals.com/OpeningDay to help fans enjoy the unofficial holiday that is #OpeningDaySTL:

Pregame Schedule

• 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM: Official Opening Day Pep Rally at Ballpark Village: Join Fredbird, Team Fredbird, DJ Todd Thomas, Cardinals organist Dwayne Hilton, Cardinals Alumni, and the Red & Black Brass Band at the Busch II Infield Stage in the Together Credit Union Plaza for the Cardinals Opening Day Pep Rally. This event is free for all fans to attend and includes prizes and ticket giveaways to Opening Day and other 2026 games.

• 12:00 PM: Busch Stadium Gates Open
  • 2026 Cardinals Magnet Schedule: All fans, ages 21 and older, will receive a magnet featuring the 2026 Cardinals schedule, compliments of Budweiser.
  • Ford Plaza will have Team Fredbird playing music and games until 2:20 PM.
  • The Alex Rich Band and DJ Deks will be performing and gearing fans for the start of pregame ceremonies with happy hour pricing in Budweiser Terrace and at the Crown Bar, respectively, until 2:20 PM.

• 12:00 – 12:55 PM: Cardinals batting practice (subject to change)

• 12:55 – 1:50 PM: Rays batting practice (subject to change)

• 2:30 PM: Pregame ceremonies begin with an appearance by the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales
  • Introduction of Fredbird & Team Fredbird
  • Recognition of Chairman & CEO, Bill DeWitt Jr.; President, Bill DeWitt III; and President of Baseball Operations, Chaim Bloom
  • Introduction of National Baseball & Cardinals Hall of Famers via 2026 Ford Mustang convertible motorcade
  • Introduction of the 2026 St. Louis Cardinals via Ford F-150 truck motorcade
  • Introduction of the Tampa Bay Rays

• 3:05 PM: National Anthem performance by the Red & Black Brass Band with flag presentation by the Ft. Leonard Wood service members.
  • Ceremonial First Pitch by 2006 World Series MVP David Eckstein, 2006 World Series Champion Gary Bennett, and 1996 National League Central Champions Brian Jordan & Tom Pagnozzi

• 3:15 PM: First Pitch by Cardinals Opening Day starting pitcher Matthew Liberatore

Forecasted Weather

Sunny, along with a few afternoon clouds.  High 93° F.  Winds SW at 10 to 20 MPH.

Projected Opening Day Roster

Pitchers (13): Justin Bruihl, Kyle Leahy, Matthew Liberatore, Dustin May, Michael McGreevy, Riley O’Brien, Andre Pallante, Matt Pushard, JoJo Romero, Chris Roycroft, George Soriano, Ryne Stanek, Matt Svanson

Catchers (3): Iván Herrera, Pedro Pagés, Yohel Pozo

Infielders (7): Alec Burleson, José Fermín, Nolan Gorman, Thomas Saggese, Ramón Urías, JJ Wetherholt, Masyn Winn

Outfielders (3): Nathan Church, Victor Scott II, Jordan Walker

Injured List (1): Lars Nootbaar -OF

Red Jackets

The following National Baseball Hall of Famers & Cardinals Hall of Famers are expected to take part in Opening Day pregame ceremonies (subject to change):

National Baseball Hall of Famers: Tony La Russa, Scott Rolen, Ted Simmons, & Ozzie Smith

Cardinals Hall of Famers: Vince Coleman, Al Hrabosky, Jason Isringhausen, Ray Lankford, Willie McGee, Mark McGwire, Edgar Renteria, & John Tudor

Approximately 40 Cardinals Alumni will return to attend Opening Day at Busch Stadium.

Television Coverage – Game Channels Will Be Announced on Opening Day

The Cardinals Live pregame show presented by Toyota starts at 2:00 PM and will originate inside Busch Stadium on Opening Day, hosted by Dani Wexelman alongside analyst Mark Sweeney. Coverage of the Cardinals’ pregame ceremonies and player introductions will start at 2:30 PM.

Calling the Cardinals’ Opening Day matchup versus the Rays will be play-by-play announcer Chip Caray and analyst Brad Thompson with Jim Hayes reporting from around Busch Stadium. The Cardinals Live postgame show presented by CarShield will follow after the final out.

Major League Baseball will produce and distribute all in-market Cardinal games for the 2026 season. Fans located in the Cardinals’ television footprint will be able to watch games on their preferred traditional cable, satellite, and streaming TV providers with no additional subscription needed. Specific game channels for each provider will be announced on the morning of Opening Day at approximately 8AM, although fans can expect to find the Cardinals game channel in the same neighborhood as its previous RSN channel.

Fans located within the Cardinals’ TV territory without traditional cable or satellite service will have the option to watch games on their smart TV, smartphone or other connected device with no blackout restrictions on Cardinals.TV presented by bet365. The direct-to-consumer streaming platform accessible from the MLB app or MLB.com can be purchased for $99.99 for the full season or $19.99/month at cardinals.com/tv.

Visit cardinals.com/watch for more information on all the ways to watch Cardinals baseball in 2026.

Radio Coverage

Fans can tune into KMOX 104.1 FM, 1120 AM or one of the other 168 stations in the Cardinals Radio Network to hear John Rooney, Ricky Horton, and Mike Claiborne call the game. The Ameren Total Access Show starts at 1:35 PM and will include live coverage of the pregame ceremonies inside Busch Stadium.

Fans can tune in locally to WIJR 880 AM “La Tremenda”, or one of the other nine stations in the club’s Cardinals Spanish Radio Network to hear Spanish broadcasters Polo Ascencio and Bengie Molina call the game as well.  Pregame coverage starts at 2:10 PM and will include live coverage of the pregame ceremonies.

NEW Concessions Offerings at Busch Stadium

Fans can enjoy a lineup of new concession offerings that celebrate local favorites and creative twists on classic comfort food, thanks to Sportservice. New items debuting at select concession locations across Busch Stadium include:

• Fried Gooey Butter Cake – Classic gooey butter cake dipped in funnel cake batter, fried to a golden brown and served with whipped cream and a choice of dessert topping. Available exclusively at Gashouse Grill (Section 150).
• Hot Dog Burnt Ends – Smoked all‑beef hot dogs cut into bite‑size pieces, glazed with BBQ sauce and served with a side of potato salad. Available at Broadway BBQ (Section 109).
• Birria Ramen Bowl – Shredded beef tossed in birria sauce and served over ramen noodles with onions, cilantro and a lime wedge. Available at Intentional Wok (Section 103).
• Big Chicken & Waffles – Our Big Chicken Nashville hot chicken breast served between two warm Belgian waffles, topped with pickles and Big Chicken Sauce. Available at Big Chicken locations in Sections 135 and 358.
• Souvenir Popcorn Bat

NEW Food Vendors at Busch Stadium

• Made In The Lou Stand: a new, dedicated concession stand housing a different local St. Louis restaurant/food vendor each month of the season that adds to the diverse culinary landscape at Busch Stadium, giving fans more ways to enjoy game day with both local flair and elevated comfort food favorites:
  • Kanoa’s Hawaiian Grill (March 26-April 26) (kanoashawaiiangrill.com)
  • The Fattened Caf (May 1-21) (thefattenedcaf.com)
  • K-Bop (May 29-June 28) (kbopstl.com)
  • Taste D Burger (July 6-30) (tdbstl.com)
  • Gulf Shores Seafood (August 7-30) (gulfshoresrestaurantandgrill.com)
  • TBD (September 11-20)

• Dulce Pop: a local vendor offering fresh, handcrafted ice pops bursting with real flavor with no artificial dyes. Dulce pop will operate four carts throughout the ballpark all season long outside Sections 107 (right field bleachers), 152 (home plate), 240 (1st base loge) and 446 (infield terrace).

• Crumbl Cookies: returns its award-winning cookies in Section 136 and suite-level locations. Offerings include milk chocolate chip, chocolate cake batter, peanut butter, and a new Dubai Chocolate Brownie that will be available on Opening Day and for a limited time.

NEW Coca-Cola Unlimited All-You-Can Eat Seats

Earlier this month, the Cardinals announced the launch of the new Coca-Cola Unlimited all-you-can-eat seats for all 2026 regular season games at Busch Stadium.

Fans who purchase Coca-Cola Unlimited tickets located in Big Mac Land (Sections 271 & 272 in the Left Field Loge level) will have UNLIMITED access to classic ballpark favorites and ice-cold Coca-Cola products from the time gates open until the end of the 8^th inning.

Coca-Cola Unlimited seats include bottomless hot dogs, chicken tenders, bratwursts, nacho chips and cheese, French fries, popcorn, peanuts, kettle chips, and ice cream cups, along with a variety of ice-cold Coca-Cola products.

Tickets starting as low as $29 are on sale now at cardinals.com/unlimited.

NEW “Pop Fly” Pop-Up Bar at Gate 1

Pop by the all-new Pop Fly Bar! This one-of-a-kind pop-up bar experience on the main concourse near Gate 1 features photo ops, specialty cocktails/mocktails, and more.

The Pop Fly Bar will transform three times during the season into an entirely new concept. First up, Where’d You Go? St. Louis’ most famously asked question! Relive your high school glory days at this high school themed experience. Where’d You Go? Class starts on Opening Day and will graduate on May 21, so don’t miss it! Visit cardinals.com/popfly for more info.

NEW $5 Concession Value Menu

Fans can enjoy a selection of ballpark favorites, including hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, soda and water, for just $5 each at every home game, all season long. The new Value Menu can be found at four different concession locations throughout Busch Stadium (cardinals.com/valuemenu):

• Field Level near Section 132 – Gashouse Grill
• Field Level near Section 162 – Ballpark Favorites
• Loge Level near Section 233 – Gashouse Grill
• Terrace Level near Section 446 – Dizzy’s Diner

Also New for 2026

• Jordan Davis Postgame Concert: Fans are invited to stay after the game on Friday, May 29 for a postgame concert by country music superstar Jordan Davis. No additional ticket is necessary, admission to the postgame concert is free with a game ticket! A limited number of VIP Field Access Packages are available to enjoy the show on the field at cardinals.com/postgame.

• Cardinals Kids Club: The revamped Cardinals Kids Club now offer the option of a new, free Rookie membership level or a paid All-Star tier that both feature exclusive benefits for members to enjoy throughout the season:
  • Rookie membership benefits include exclusive ballpark giveaways, two tickets to a Monday-Thursday game, additional ticket discounts, a 10% Cardinals Team Store discount, free speed pitch and virtual reality sessions in the Hi-Chew Family Pavilion, and monthly communications from the Cardinals.
  • The All-Star membership tier unlocks two tickets for all five Cardinals Kids Party Sunday games, front-of-the-line privileges for Kids Run the Bases, and an exclusive Cardinals merchandise kit.
  • To register for a 2026 Cardinals Kids Club membership or for more information, visit cardinals.com/kidsclub.

• Cardinal Museum’s Special Exhibit: The St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame & Museum’s 2026 special exhibit, 1926: The 100^th Anniversary, will highlight players and game-changing moments of the 1926 World Series. Celebrate the standout performances by both the Cardinals and Yankees, see game-used artifacts, photographs and memorabilia! This exhibit will take you through the Cardinals’ first championship and the heated beginnings of a World Series rivalry. Museum tickets can be purchased at cardinals.com/museum.

NEW ABS Challenge System

Beginning this season, players will have the power to appeal the strike-zone judgments of human home-plate umpires by turning to the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System, powered by T-Mobile–a technological advancement that will not only help ensure the most important calls are made correctly but also add a fun new layer of strategy to the sport.

Tested in the Minor Leagues since 2022 and in Major League Spring Training the last two years, this change is supported by fan polling and was approved MLB’s Joint Competition Committee last September.  The system will be used in every game across the league played in an MLB ballpark, including the postseason.

ABS Challenge Rules:

• Each team starts the game with two challenges. Successful challenges (call overturned) are retained and Unsuccessful challenges (call is confirmed) are lost. Teams will receive an additional challenge in extra innings if they don’t have any remaining.
• Only the pitcher, catcher or batter may challenge. A player’s decision to challenge must be unaided and made immediately after the umpire’s call or the resolution of an intermittent play.
• Players will tap their cap or helmet to alert the umpire to their desire to challenge a call. An animated pitch result graphic is shown to those in attendance via the video board and to home viewers via the television broadcast.

2026 Official Team Media Guide

The St. Louis Cardinals Media Guide is the official resource used daily by sportswriters, broadcasters and Cardinals front office staff. Featuring 2025 Silver Slugger Alec Burleson and 2025 Gold Glove award winner Masyn Winn on the cover, the Cardinals Media Guide contains stats and biographies of every player and coach in the organization and is the best and most comprehensive book about the Cardinals anywhere.

Printed copies of the 2026 Media Guide are available for $20 at the Official Cardinals Team Store at Busch Stadium, inside Cardinals Authentics Shops, or online at cardinals.com/mediaguide.

2026 Cardinals Care 50/50 Raffle—New Rollover Format

The Cardinals Care 50/50 Raffle returns for the 2026 regular season, giving fans the opportunity to win cash prizes while supporting Cardinals Care programs that benefit children across the St. Louis region. New this season, the raffle will feature a rollover format, allowing jackpots to grow larger until a winning ticket is selected. Drawings will take place at the end of the 7th inning during the final game of each homestand.

Ticket sales for the first Cardinals Care 50/50 Raffle are on sale now, and remain open until the end of the 7^th inning on Wednesday, April 1. Fans can also purchase tickets from Cardinals Care volunteer sellers throughout Busch Stadium when gates open until the end of the 7^th inning during each home game.

Raffle tickets are 200 for $50, 60 for $20, and 10 for $10. Fans can take advantage of special online early bird raffle ticket pricing of 400 for $50 or 120 for $20 from now through and 11:59 PM CT on Wednesday, March 25. The winning number will be drawn on Wednesday, April 1, at the end of the 7^th inning.

Fans must be 18 years of age or older and physically located in Missouri at the time of purchase. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit cardinals.com/5050.

Cardinals Care Auctions

Cardinals Care Auctions return for the 2026 season, offering fans the chance to bid on exclusive Cardinals memorabilia while supporting programs that benefit children across the St. Louis community.

Fans can bid on a wide variety of autographed, team-issued, and game-used items during each home series, with the first auction opening on Thursday, March 26, at 9:00 AM CT and closing on Sunday, March 29, at 9:00 PM CT.  Fans can explore newly added items and place their bids online at cardinals.com/ccauctions.

Guest Screening & Prohibited Items Policy

Guest safety is a priority for the St. Louis Cardinals and Major League Baseball. The screening program and inspection policy at Busch Stadium is an important part of making Busch Stadium a safe environment for our guests.

• In conjunction with a league-wide policy established by Major League Baseball, the St. Louis Cardinals reserve the right to inspect all items entering Busch Stadium.
• Guests may bring in items such as: bags, purses and soft-sided coolers not exceeding 10” x 8” x 10”; food, non-alcoholic beverages in factory-sealed plastic bottles no larger than 2 liters; empty cups, mugs, tumblers or plastic bottles.
• Fans can visit cardinals.com/security for the complete stadium inspection policy and prohibited items list.

— STL —