ESPN Updated MLB Schedule Will See Most Games During Summer

As part of a new broadcast agreement with Major League Baseball, ESPN moves from Sunday night games to a flexible schedule that puts the bulk of its national broadcasts in the summer months.

The new look exclusive schedule for 2026 sees 23 of 30 broadcasts across June, July, and August.

“It’s summertime, it’s baseball time,” said Ashley O’Connor, VP of Programming and Acquisitions for ESPN. “We have been partners with Major League Baseball for a very long time, and this is the next evolution of that, and that includes having a core, strong exclusive package of 30 games, still having our Baseball Tonight presence throughout the season. And, we’re going to add over 2000 games available on MLB.TV through the ESPN app.”

The schedule will also see three games aired on ABC. Sunday, June 14 will see the Cubs face off against the Giants; Saturday, June 27 sees the Yankees vs. the Red Sox at Fenway Park, and Sunday, Aug 16 sees the Cardinals against the Cubs from Wrigley Field.

The flexibility for ESPN means there will be more than one doubleheader on the schedule.

On Thursday, May 7, ESPN will present its first doubleheader of the season as the Boston Red Sox and Roman Anthony host the Tampa Bay Rays and Junior Caminero at 7 p.m. ET.. At 10 p.m., the San Diego Padres and Fernando Tatís Jr. host the St. Louis Cardinals and Alec Burleson.

There will still be some games on Sundays. For example, the Atlanta Braves and Ronald Acuña Jr. visit the San Diego Padres and Manny Machado on ESPN is newly announced.

A key game airing on ESPN will be the MLB second-half opener coming out of the All-Star break that will feature the New York Mets vs. the Philadelphia Phillies on Thu, July 16

ESPN previously announced key jewel events they are broadcasting this year, including Jackie Robinson Day on April 15 between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers, and the MLB Little League Classic on Sunday, Aug 23, between the Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers.

While ESPN has released its updated schedule, 19 of the dates are listed as TBD. This is designed as flex scheduling based on how teams are faring in the standings.

“I’ll keep using the word ‘flexibility,” said O’Connor of TBDs on the schedule. “It is something that we are proud of in this new relationship [with MLB]. We have the flexibility to pick our games a couple of weeks out. We’re able to track the stories based on what is happening in the season and show the games that people want to see that are relevant, and are the most exciting at the time.”

Given the change in ESPN’s scheduling, there was some question about whether broadcast teams might change under the new agreement between the Worldwide Leader and MLB. Exact details on who will cover which games have not yet been determined. Expect to see the on-air personalities that were part of Spring Training broadcasts, including Karl Ravech, Eduardo Perez, Buster Olney, Jon Sciambi, Doug Glanville, and Alden Gonzalez. David Ross is also expected to return.

Below is the 2026 ESPN MLB broadcast schedule

ESPN Updated MLB Schedule Will See Most Games During Summer

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