Major League Baseball is back, and the new season is being called a home run for fans as it brings the most comprehensive lineup of baseball across the ESPN platforms, thanks to a new long-term rights package, starting with the season opening day on Friday April 8.
As part of a new rights package with Major League Baseball, ESPN will bring an expanded broadcast schedule to viewers in Australia and New Zealand for the new campaign across all platforms.
Major League Baseball ESPN highlights
• Seven live games per week
• 25 Sunday Night Baseball games (Monday AEST)
• Sunday Night Baseball with Kay-Rod (Alex Rodriguez and Michael Kay)*
• 10 Spring Training games
• MLB Opening Night game
• MLB StrikeZone each Thursday and Saturday
• Home Run Derby and All-Star Game
• All expanded MLB Wild Card games
• The entire Major League Baseball Playoffs
• The entire Major League Baseball World Series
• Major League Baseball fans will enjoy all the action of the new season across ESPN, ESPN2 and the ESPN App*.
Alex Rodriguez and Michael Kay will bring ‘Sunday Night Baseball with Kay-Rod’ to ESPN, accompanying selected Sunday Night MLB games (Monday AEST) and will be available via the ESPN App*.
The popular MLB StrikeZone will also return each Thursday and Saturday AEST, ensuring baseball fans see every pitch and every home run from around the leagues.
ESPN will have every game throughout the expanded Major League Baseball Playoffs that will include an increased Wildcard Round in 2022.
Every game of the World Series will again be live on ESPN, as will the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game.
Opening Match on ESPN
ESPN’s coverage of the new MLB season kicks off on Friday April 8 with the defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves facing the Cincinnati Reds, at 10am AEST live on ESPN2.
The Braves claimed the 2021 World Series over the Houston Astros, ending a long championship drought for the city of Atlanta. They are hungry for more success and will be among the favourites again, but 2022 will see improvements from a host of franchises, following recent spending in free agency, that topped US$3 billion.
Saturday will see a host of contenders that form the chasing pack in action across MLB and fans can follow it all, with MLB StrikeZone kicking off at 9am AEST on the ESPN App*.
Over on ESPN2 at the same time, the Texas Rangers will meet the Toronto Blue Jays, while at 11am AEST, the Los Angeles Dodgers meet the Colorado Rockies.
Monday April 11 sees two old foes collide when the Boston Red Sox meet the New York Yankees at 9am AEST, live on ESPN2.
This match will see the debut of ‘Sunday Night Baseball with Kay-Rod’ as Alex Rodriguez and Michael Kay give their unique take on the action, live on the ESPN App* from 9am AEST.
Tuesday April 12 sees the Yankees in action once more, this time against the Toronto Blue Jays, which will be live on ESPN at 9am AEST, ensuring a huge first week of MLB action across ESPN.
Opening Week on ESPN
Friday April 8
10am AEST, Cincinnati Reds vs Atlanta Braves, ESPN2
Saturday April 9
9am AEST, Texas Rangers vs Toronto Blue Jays, ESPN2
9am AEST, MLB StrikeZone, ESPN App
11am AEST, Los Angeles Dodgers vs Colorado Rockies, ESPN App*
Monday April 11
9am AEST, Boston Red Sox vs New York Yankees, ESPN2
9am AEST, Sunday Night Baseball with Kay-Rod, ESPN App*
Tuesday April 12
9am AEST, Toronto Blue Jays vs New York Yankees, ESPN
Wednesday April 13
9am AEST, Miami Marlins vs Los Angeles Angels, ESPN App*
Thursday April 14
3am AEST, MLB StrikeZone, ESPN App*
9am AEST, Toronto Blue Jays vs New York Yankees, ESPN2
*Streaming functionality on the ESPN App and ESPN.com.au is available to ESPN channel subscribers via Foxtel, Fetch TV and SKY NZ who enter their platform credentials. (Note: Kayo subscribers cannot stream via the ESPN App or ESPN.com.au). Download the ESPN App from the Apple and Android app stores.
ESPN and ESPN2 linear channels are available via Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV and SKY NZ.