If you're staring at your phone wondering what time is the Diamondbacks game tonight, I have some news that might be a little frustrating, but it's the honest truth. Right now, there is no game. It’s mid-January. Phoenix is finally seeing some "winter" weather, and Chase Field is basically a quiet giant.
The 2026 Arizona Diamondbacks season hasn't officially started yet. Baseball is a summer game, and even though we all want to be sitting in the stands with a Churro Dog, we are still a few weeks away from the first pitch of the year.
When do the Diamondbacks actually play?
Honestly, the wait is almost over. The team is currently in the thick of the "boring" part of the offseason—arbitration hearings and international signings. But the real action kicks off next month.
If you are looking for the very first time you can see the Snakes in action, mark your calendar for Friday, February 20, 2026. That is the Cactus League opener. They’ll be taking on the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. The game time for that one is set for 1:10 PM MST.
Since they share that stadium with the Rockies, they’ll technically be the "away" team for that first one. They turn right around and play the Rockies again the next day, February 21, at the same time, but as the home team.
Key Dates for the Early 2026 Season
While there's no game tonight, January 17, here is what the immediate future looks like for the D-backs:
- February 10-12: Pitchers and catchers report to Scottsdale. This is when the beat writers start posting those videos of guys playing catch in the grass.
- February 20: First Spring Training game vs. Rockies (1:10 PM).
- March 3: A special exhibition game against the Mexico National Team for the World Baseball Classic (1:10 PM).
- March 26: Opening Day! The D-backs start the regular season on the road in Los Angeles against the Dodgers. The game time for the season opener is 5:30 PM MST.
The Chase Field Home Opener
You’ve probably noticed that the Diamondbacks have a bit of a road-heavy start to the 2026 season. After they finish up that opening series in LA, they finally come back to Phoenix.
The home opener at Chase Field is Monday, March 30, 2026. They’ll be hosting the Detroit Tigers. Usually, home openers are night games, and this one is no different—expect a 7:10 PM MST start time.
It’s going to be a wild atmosphere. Torey Lovullo is entering his tenth season as the manager, which is kind of insane when you think about how much turnover there is in MLB these days. The stability he brings is part of why this team remains a contender in the NL West.
Why isn't there a game tonight?
It sounds like a silly question to a die-hard fan, but if you’re just getting into baseball or you’re a tourist in Scottsdale, it’s a fair one. MLB doesn't play "winter league" games in the States.
The players are mostly doing their own thing right now. Corbin Carroll is probably training somewhere to be even faster, and Zac Gallen is likely fine-tuning his curveball. Tonight, the only "Diamondbacks" action is likely happening in the front office where Mike Hazen is trying to figure out if there are any late-offseason deals to be made.
If you're looking for sports tonight, you’re stuck with the NBA or the NFL playoffs. Actually, the NFL Divisional Round is happening right now. That's usually where the eyeballs are this time of year.
Where to watch when the season starts
Once the games actually start happening, you’ll need to know where to find them. The broadcast situation for the Diamondbacks has been a bit of a saga lately with the whole Bally Sports/Diamond Sports Group bankruptcy stuff.
Basically, for 2026, most fans will be watching through DBACKS.TV. It’s the direct-to-consumer streaming service that MLB runs. You can also find them on local cable through providers like Cox (Channel 34) and Spectrum.
- Spring Training Games: Not all of these are televised. Usually, only the weekend games or the ones against big-market teams like the Dodgers or Cubs get the full broadcast treatment.
- Regular Season: Almost every single game will be available on the DBACKS.TV app or your local sports channel.
- Radio: If you're driving around the Valley, 98.7 KMVP FM is still the place to hear Greg Schulte and the crew.
Actionable Next Steps
Since there isn't a game tonight, you don't have to worry about missing the first inning. Instead, you can get ready for the season.
First, go ahead and sync the official 2026 Diamondbacks schedule to your phone calendar. You can do this through the MLB app or the team website. It’ll automatically update with game times as they get finalized (sometimes those getaway day games change from night to afternoon).
Second, if you’re planning on going to Spring Training, buy your tickets now. Salt River Fields is one of the most popular spots in the Cactus League, and games against the Rockies or Dodgers sell out fast.
Third, keep an eye on the news around February 10. That’s when the first real updates on player health and roster battles will start trickling out of Scottsdale. That’s when the "what time is the game" question actually starts having an answer every day.
Check back in about a month—that's when the desert truly comes alive with the sound of the crack of the bat.
