2026 MLB on ESPN: Full schedule of national broadcasts

ESPN has expanded its 2026 Major League Baseball broadcast schedule with several new game selections that emphasize summer programming. The network will air 30 exclusive national games throughout the season, with 23 scheduled for June, July and August. The concentration of games during those three months represents a reimagined approach to the broadcast calendar. ESPN’s first doubleheader of the season will take place Thursday, May 7. The Tampa Bay Rays will visit the Boston Red Sox at 7 p.m., followed by the St. Louis Cardinals traveling to face the San Diego Padres at 10 p.m. The network also added a Monday, June 22, matchup between the Atlanta Braves and Padres in San Diego. The new additions join previously announced games already on the calendar. ESPN will broadcast the Jackie Robinson Day game between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers on April 15. The network’s Memorial Day coverage on May 25 features the New York Yankees visiting the Kansas City Royals. The MLB Little League Classic pits the Braves against the Milwaukee Brewers on Aug. 23. Three games will air on ABC, including a June 27 contest between the Yankees and Red Sox in Boston. ESPN will finalize selections for several game slots currently listed as “to be determined” up to two weeks before the scheduled broadcast date.