Baseball is back, and ESPN is swinging for the fences with its 36th season of Major League Baseball coverage. The action begins with an exclusive Opening Day doubleheader on Thursday, March 27, and the return of Sunday Night Baseball on March 30. Both will, for the first time, be available on both ESPN+ and Disney+.
Here’s the Lowdown: The Opening Day festivities start at 3 p.m. ET with the New York Yankees, led by Aaron Judge, taking on the Milwaukee Brewers and Christian Yelich. Notably, Joe Buck, the voice of Monday Night Football, will call his first national MLB game since the 2021 World Series, joined by guest analysts Joe Girardi and Bill Schroeder. Then, at 7 p.m. ET, the reigning World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers, with Shohei Ohtani, face the Detroit Tigers and pitcher Tarik Skubal.
What This Means Now: Baseball fans get a double dose of top-tier action right out of the gate, and the experiment of broadcasting on both ESPN+ and Disney+, for the first time, marks an opportunity for both platforms. Joe Buck’s return to national MLB broadcasting is a major draw for many viewers.
The Bigger Picture: ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball team – Karl Ravech, David Cone, Eduardo Pérez, and Buster Olney – are back for their fourth season together, calling the Padres vs. Braves game on March 30. The broadcast will be complemented by Baseball Tonight pregame shows and additional coverage throughout the week, featuring commentators like Kevin Connors, Xavier Scruggs, Tim Kurkjian, and Jeff Passan. Furthermore, ESPN Radio offers extensive game coverage, and the Jonas Brothers’ new song, “I Can’t Lose,” will serve as the Sunday Night Baseball anthem.
