“Friday Night Baseball” returns to Apple TV on March 27 for its fifth season, continuing Apple’s exclusive partnership with Major League Baseball and delivering weekly doubleheaders throughout the 2026 regular season. Available to Apple TV subscribers in more than 60 countries and regions, the series offers two marquee matchups every Friday across a 25-week schedule, with no local broadcast restrictions.
Opening night features the Los Angeles Angels at the Houston Astros at 8:15 p.m. ET, followed by the Cleveland Guardians at the Seattle Mariners at 9:45 p.m. ET. From there, the schedule stretches through June 26 for the first half of the season, with a lineup that includes rivalry games, postseason-caliber showdowns, and appearances by some of the league’s biggest names.
A Premium Broadcast Experience
Apple and MLB describe the fifth season as a continuation of the production model that has defined “Friday Night Baseball” since its debut: national broadcasts, elevated camera work, and commentary teams built specifically for the Apple TV format. For the fourth straight season, games will be called by Wayne Randazzo alongside analyst Dontrelle Willis and sideline reporter Heidi Watney, while Alex Faust joins Ryan Spilborghs and Tricia Whitaker on the alternate broadcast team. Rich Waltz will call select games during the season.
Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Apple Music, Apple TV, Sports, and Beats, said the goal remains consistent: “With cutting-edge production — including the integration of iPhone to capture immersive new perspectives — and a full season of marquee matchups available without local broadcast restrictions, we’re delivering a modern, premium broadcast experience designed for fans everywhere.”
That integration of iPhone into live sports production made headlines last season. On the final Friday of the 2025 regular season, Apple incorporated iPhone 17 Pro as a primary camera within the broadcast workflow at Fenway Park, marking the first time an iPhone was used in that role during a live professional sports broadcast. The milestone event — when the Red Sox clinched a postseason berth with a walk-off win over the Detroit Tigers — led to one of the authenticated iPhone units being added to the permanent collection of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Apple says iPhone will continue to be integrated into select broadcasts throughout the 2026 season.
Marquee Matchups Across the First Half
The first-half schedule includes high-profile games such as the New York Subway Series between the Yankees and Mets on May 15, along with multiple appearances by reigning National League MVP Shohei Ohtani and the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Matchups include the Cubs visiting Dodger Stadium on April 24, a showdown against the Philadelphia Phillies on May 29, and an NL West rivalry meeting with the San Diego Padres on June 26.
Other notable pairings in the early schedule include:
- April 3: Milwaukee Brewers at Kansas City Royals; Atlanta Braves at Arizona Diamondbacks
- April 10: Los Angeles Angels at Cincinnati Reds; San Francisco Giants at Baltimore Orioles
- May 22: Houston Astros at Chicago Cubs; Detroit Tigers at Baltimore Orioles
- June 12: Arizona Diamondbacks at Cincinnati Reds; Atlanta Braves at New York Mets
Each Friday features two games, typically staggered to allow fans to move between broadcasts.
Beyond the doubleheaders, Apple is expanding its baseball programming. Beginning March 26, U.S. fans can watch the MLB Big Inning whip-around show, offering live look-ins and in-game highlights every weeknight. Additional programming includes Countdown to First Pitch, MLB Daily Recap, and MLB This Week, available within the Apple TV app. Game recaps, highlights, classic games, and interviews can also be accessed without a subscription.
How to Watch Friday Night Baseball
“Friday Night Baseball” is available to Apple TV subscribers for $12.99 per month, with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. Eligible customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Mac may qualify for three months of Apple TV at no additional cost.
Subscribers can stream games on the Apple TV app across supported devices, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, select smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, and TCL, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox consoles, and through tv.apple.com.
Access is also available through Prime Video subscriptions, Roku premium subscriptions, Comcast Xfinity, DIRECTV, and other distribution partners. DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS will offer “Friday Night Baseball” in more than 300,000 commercial establishments across the U.S., while EverPass provides access to Apple TV’s live sports portfolio for participating venues.
Following MLB All Season
Beyond live broadcasts, Apple is building a connected MLB experience across its services. The Apple Sports app for iPhone offers real-time scores, stats, standings, and play-by-play updates, including Live Activities for MLB games that appear on the iPhone Lock Screen and Apple Watch. Game Card Sharing allows fans to share specific matchups.
Within Apple News, fans can follow the MLB feed and their favorite teams, access curated Friday roundups, and watch personalized highlights. Apple Music features official playlists highlighting team walk-up songs alongside baseball-themed collections.
Produced by MLB Network’s Emmy Award-winning production team in partnership with Apple’s live sports production group, “Friday Night Baseball” continues to position itself as a global broadcast window into MLB, combining exclusive distribution with expanded digital integration across Apple’s ecosystem.
