The Tampa Bay Rays will be front and center when ESPN rolls out its reimagined 2026 Major League Baseball schedule. The network announced a fresh wave of game selections, and the Rays are the first team featured in ESPN’s opening doubleheader of the season. On Thursday, May 7, Tampa Bay travels to Fenway Park to face the Boston Red Sox at 7 p.m. ET, a matchup that places rising star Junior Caminero on national television early in the year. The game marks the beginning of ESPN’s shift toward a summer‑heavy slate, with 23 of its 30 exclusive national broadcasts airing in June, July, and August.
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Cardinals Also Land Key National Windows
The St. Louis Cardinals join the Rays among the early headliners. Immediately following Tampa Bay’s matchup, the Cardinals visit the San Diego Padres at 10 p.m. ET to complete ESPN’s May 7 doubleheader. St. Louis appears again later in the summer, including an August 16 ABC broadcast against the Chicago Cubs. The Cardinals’ presence in multiple national windows underscores ESPN’s strategy of spotlighting marquee brands and competitive rosters throughout the season.
ESPN Adds More Summer Matchups
ESPN also confirmed a June 22 showdown between the Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres, featuring Ronald Acuña Jr. and Manny Machado. Additional TBD games will be selected up to two weeks before their scheduled dates, giving the network flexibility to highlight emerging storylines and surging teams. Previously announced broadcasts include Jackie Robinson Day, Memorial Day, the MLB second‑half opener and the MLB Little League Classic. ESPN’s three‑game MLB on ABC package, revealed in January, remains a central part of the network’s summer programming.
MLB.TV Now Available Directly Through ESPN
Fans can now purchase MLB.TV through the ESPN App and ESPN.com, marking a new milestone in the long‑standing partnership between MLB and ESPN. Subscribers will have access to more than 2,000 regular‑season games, expanding the reach of both national and out‑of‑market broadcasts.
Full 2026 ESPN Baseball Schedule
Below is the complete ESPN and ABC schedule as announced, including Rays and Cardinals national appearances:
Wed, Apr. 15 – 10 p.m. – MLB Jackie Robinson Day: Mets vs. Dodgers (ESPN)
Thu, May 7 – 7 p.m. – Rays vs. Red Sox (ESPN)
Thu, May 7 – 10 p.m. – Cardinals vs. Padres (ESPN)
Mon, May 25 – 3:30 p.m. – Yankees vs. Royals (ESPN)
Thu, June 11 – TBD – TBD (ESPN)
Sun, June 14 – 3 p.m. – Cubs vs. Giants (ABC)
Mon, June 15 – TBD – TBD (ESPN)
Mon, June 22 – 10 p.m. – Braves vs. Padres (ESPN)
Sat, June 27 – 1 p.m. – Yankees vs. Red Sox (ABC)
Mon, June 29 – TBD – TBD (ESPN)
Wed, July 1 – TBD – TBD (ESPN)
Mon, July 6 – TBD – TBD (ESPN)
Wed, July 8 – TBD – TBD (ESPN)
Thu, July 16 – 7 p.m. – MLB second-half opener: Mets vs. Phillies (ESPN)
Mon, July 20 – TBD – TBD (ESPN)
Wed, July 22 – TBD – TBD (ESPN)
Mon, July 27 – TBD – TBD (ESPN)
Thu, July 30 – TBD – TBD (ESPN)
Mon, Aug. 3 – TBD – TBD (ESPN)
Thu, Aug. 6 – TBD – TBD (ESPN)
Wed, Aug. 12 – TBD – TBD (ESPN)
Sun, Aug. 16 – 3 p.m. – Cardinals vs. Cubs (ABC)
Mon, Aug. 17 – TBD – TBD (ESPN)
Sun, Aug. 23 – 7 p.m. – MLB Little League Classic: Braves vs. Brewers (ESPN)
Wed, Sep. 16 – TBD – TBD (ESPN)
Wed, Sep. 23 – TBD – TBD (ESPN)
