After opting out of their deal to be the home of Sunday Night Baseball last year, ESPN has announced a 30-game slate to air nationally on their network in 2026.
The network Monday announced their 2026 schedule of games will begin on April 15, which is Jackie Robinson Day, and feature the Los Angeles Dodgers hosting the New York Mets.
In addition to their Jackie Robinson Day coverage, ESPN has also announced three other games that will air on the network coast to coast. The network has the Yankees playing the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Memorial Day, May 25, as well as the second half opener on July 16 between the Mets and Philadelphia Phillies.
ESPN will also retain the rights to the Little League Classic from Williamsport, Pennsylvania. This year’s matchup features the Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers.
ESPN unveils key dates for 2026 #MLB game selections
Details: https://t.co/5N3hR2FXtf pic.twitter.com/DkfVKXLkFL
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) December 8, 2025
New ESPN Schedule Comes After Opt-out, Restructured Deals
ESPN opted out of their deal with Major League Baseball to be the home of Sunday Night Baseball prior to the 2025 season. The league has since brokered a deal with NBC and Peacock to be the home of Sunday Night Baseball starting in the 2026 season, and also added Netflix as a rightsholder. The streaming service will have an Opening Day broadcast as well as rights to the Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game in Philadelphia.
The deal with ESPN gives them control of MLB TV, the league’s out-of-market broadcast service, as well as local broadcasting rights for the six teams whose television broadcast rights are held by the league: the San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Guardians, Minnesota Twins, Seattle Mariners, and Colorado Rockies.
The deals with NBC, Netflix, and ESPN are set for the next three seasons, and coincide with the expiration of the league’s broadcasting rights deals with Fox and TNT after 2028.
