Apple TV+ Brings Back Friday Night Major League Baseball Games; First-Half Season Schedule Announced
Apple TV+ Brings Back Friday Night Major League Baseball Games; First-Half Season Schedule Announced
First pitch is just around the corner and for the third year in a row, Apple TV+ will air an exclusive pair of Major League Baseball games every Friday night of the regular season. The platform has released its complete schedule of contests through June, as well as its play-by-play teams and additional programming surrounding each broadcast.
Key Points:
- For the third-straight season, Apple TV+ will air a pair of MLB games every Friday night.
- The season will open with games between the Yankees and Astros, then the Cardinals and Dodgers.
- Apple TV+ will also offer its whip-around show “MLB Big Inning” every weeknight of the season.
Apple’s weekly slate of quasi-doubleheaders will kick off during the first week of the regular season with a pair of marquee matchups. Coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. ET with the new-look New York Yankees — led by Juan Soto and Aaron Judge — taking on the Houston Astros. Then at 9:30 p.m. ET, new Los Angeles Dodger Shohei Ohtani will welcome the St. Louis Cardinals to Chavez Ravine.
These games will be free of any local blackout restrictions and will be available to baseball fans in 60 countries and regions. The streamer has released the matchups and first-pitch times for every game on the schedule through June 28.
“We’re so excited to bring fans another great season of ‘Friday Night Baseball’ on Apple TV+,” Apple SVP Eddy Cue said. “We have an outstanding lineup of games for Apple TV+ subscribers to watch across all their favorite devices, and an incredible group of talented broadcasters returning to bring fans closer to the games every week.”
While the Friday night games aren’t exactly doubleheaders, as some weeks will feature overlapping games and others will include two games starting at the same time, it will be an opportunity for fans around the world to catch a pair of contests between some of the best teams in baseball, including last season’s World Series champs, the Texas Rangers, who will be featured in the second week as well as the up-and-coming Cincinnati Reds.
Who Are the Broadcasters for Apple TV+’s ‘Friday Night Baseball’ Games?
Wayne Randazzo and Alex Faust will be back in the booth this season as Apple’s play-by-play announcers with former major leaguers Dontrelle Willis and Ryan Spilborghs serving as analysts. Heidi Watney and Tricia Whitaker will be down on the field reporting throughout the games as well.
Former MLB umpires Ted Barrett, Brian Gorman, and Dale Scott will break down any usual rules and calls each week as well as help explain the process for each replay review. The individual game broadcast assignments will be announced on a weekly basis.
Also returning for another season is Lauren Gardner who will host all of the live pre and postgame coverage each week. She will be joined by former MLB player Xavier Scruggs and journalist Russell Dorsey.
Starting on Opening Day, fans in the United States will be able to watch “MLB Big Inning” every weeknight of the regular season. The whip-around show will include live look-ins and in-game highlights from every game. Apple TV+ will also be the home of additional baseball content “Countdown to First Pitch,” “MLB Daily Recap,” and “MLB This Week.”
While Apple TV+ and its MLB content are available for $9.99 per month, the free Apple TV app will also feature condensed game recaps after the completion of each “Friday Night Baseball” broadcast, as well as classic games, highlights, interviews, and more.
What is the First Half of the 2024 ‘Friday Night Baseball’ Schedule on Apple TV+?
Apple TV
Apple TV (formerly known as Apple TV+) is a subscription video streaming service for $14.99 per month, offering a growing slate of original series, films, documentaries, and specials. Unlike other platforms that combine licensed titles with originals, Apple TV is built entirely around exclusive programming, making it the home of critically acclaimed hits such as “Ted Lasso,” “Severance,” “The Morning Show,” and “Silo.” Its lineup continues to expand with award-winning dramas, comedies, family-friendly shows, and blockbuster original films like “CODA,” which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.