Major League Baseball revealed the television schedule and scenarios for the 2026 postseason’s Wild Card Series on Sunday. Details have since emerged about the announcing crews that will call the games across NBC platforms.
As was the case during the regular season, local analysts will be in the booth to give each broadcast a familiar voice for each team. Additionally, each broadcast will feature one “Inside the Pitch” analyst.
The Wild Card Series is a best-of-three, so it’s unclear which, if any, series will go three games into Thursday. But here’s a look at the setup for Tuesday and Wednesday (all times are Eastern):
Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves (2 p.m., NBC/Peacock)
Matt Vasgersian (play-by-play), John Kruk (analyst), C.J. Nitkowski (analyst), Joey Votto (“Inside the Pitch” analyst), Ashley ShahAhmadi (reporter)
The energetic Vasgersian has called many postseason games in his career and has been a major presence on MLB Network for 17 years.
Kruk brings a one-of-a-kind, unapologetically honest personality to the Phillies broadcast booth, and Philadelphia fans will be happy to hear him on the call as he goes through the same emotions they do during a postseason series. Nitkowski became the primary color analyst for the Braves in 2024.
Votto quickly became a star as an “Inside the Pitch” analyst for NBC in his first year working television after a decorated MLB career that included winning the 2021 NL MVP award.
Chicago White Sox at Houston Astros (5 p.m., Peacock/NBCSN)
Tom McCarthy (play-by-play), Steve Stone (analyst), Geoff Blum (analyst), Adam Ottavino (“Inside the Pitch” analyst), Britney Eurton (reporter)
McCarthy is a versatile play-by-play announcer that fans may recognize from NFL and March Madness broadcasts for CBS. And he’s one of the top regional sports network announcers, working alongside Kruk in the Philadelphia booth.
Stone has been a longtime color commentator for the White Sox, just like Blum has been for the Astros.
Ottavino retired from the majors last year after a lengthy career as an effective relief pitcher, and he’s already made himself very busy as an analyst for NBC, ESPN, and YES Network.
Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees (8 p.m., NBC/Peacock)
Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Lou Merloni (analyst), Joe Girardi (analyst), Anthony Rizzo (“Inside the Pitch” analyst), Caroline Pineda (reporter)
Benetti is a fan favorite and is the voice of Sunday Night Baseball as the NBC lead play-by-play announcer. It’s certainly no surprise that NBC assigned him to the Red Sox-Yankees series.
Red Sox fans are extremely familiar with Merloni, as are Yankees fans with Girardi.
Rizzo has been superb as an analyst for NBC and Netflix, and two years ago, he was playing postseason games for the Yankees.
Chicago Cubs at San Diego Padres (10 p.m., Peacock/NBCSN)
Dave Flemming (play-by-play), Jim Deshaies (analyst), Mark Grant (analyst), Clayton Kershaw (“Inside the Pitch” analyst), John Fanta (reporter)
Flemming gets the late-night game, a role he carried for years as a college sports play-by-play voice for ESPN, and now for NBC. He’s also been a play-by-play announcer for the San Francisco Giants for more than two decades.
Deshaies and Grant make for an incredible pairing. “J.D.” brings his dry humor, witty commentary, and sharp analysis to Cubs broadcasts. And “Mud” is one of the most entertaining analysts in the sport, working alongside Don Orsillo to form a Padres booth that Awful Announcing readers voted No. 1 in MLB in consecutive years.
Kershaw brings an excellent perspective to pitching after just wrapping up a remarkable career that will land him in Cooperstown.
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ESPN Radio provides nationwide coverage for every round of the postseason, including the Wild Card, Division Series, League Championship Series, and the World Series. Here are the announcer rundowns for the Wild Card round:
Phillies-Braves: Dave O’Brien, Jessica Mendoza
White Sox-Astros: Roxy Bernstein, Gregg Olson
Red Sox-Yankees: Michael Kay, Eduardo Perez, Tim Kurkjian
Cubs-Padres: Jon Sciambi, Doug Glanville