ESPN’s early-season baseball lineup is set to showcase the Sho Show, putting the spotlight on Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers in two of ESPN’s first three “Sunday Night Baseball” telecasts this season.
Kicking off the Sunday night schedule is the Dodgers’ home clash against the St. Louis Cardinals on March 31. Following that, ESPN will broadcast the Dodgers’ home game versus the San Diego Padres on April 14. The network has also chosen the Dodgers’ June 9 matchup against the New York Yankees for its Sunday night lineup, with games starting shortly after 7 p.m. ET.
Adding to the excitement, ESPN secured coverage of the Dodgers’ opening two games of the season, a special two-game series against the Padres in Seoul, South Korea, on March 20 and 21.
Shohei Ohtani, who recently signed a historic 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers after leaving the Los Angeles Angels, is anticipated to be a regular designated hitter this season, refraining from pitching following elbow ligament surgery.
The Sunday night picks extend beyond the Dodgers, featuring compelling matchups such as the World Series champion Texas Rangers hosting the Houston Astros on April 7 in a rematch of last year’s American League Championship Series. Other notable games include the Rangers visiting the Atlanta Braves on April 21, the Chicago Cubs facing the Boston Red Sox on April 28, the Cubs taking on the Cardinals on May 26, and the Yankees squaring off against the Red Sox on June 16.
Additionally, ESPN is set to broadcast the Little League Classic game between the Yankees and Detroit Tigers on Aug. 18 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, as previously announced by MLB. The early-season schedule promises an engaging start to the baseball season, with a focus on key matchups and star players like Shohei Ohtani.