11 Best Early Season National TV MLB Games on FOX, ESPN, and TBS

The Major League Baseball regular season is almost upon us, and between ESPN, TBS, Fox and elsewhere, you’re bound to find your favorite team on a television set near you.

Fox will broadcast their usual Saturday afternoon games, TBS will pick up on Sundays, and for the most part, you can expect ESPN to have games on Sunday and Monday evenings. (Mid-week, you might look for your local team networks and eventually, on Thursdays, the MLB Network will be back for their second season, though the schedule has yet to be released).

The MLB national TV schedule, which is always subject to change, is at the end of this post below.

Before getting to that, we provide the 11 “best” games during the first half of the season – at least so far as I can surmise in March.

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11 Best Early Season MLB Games on National TV

These are listed chronologically, not from best to worst or vice versa.

1. Yankees-Red Sox, April 4, 8pm EDT, ESPN2:

A baseball tradition unlike any other (cue Masters music — it’s that time of year too after all) — and on opening night, no less. You’ll probably see Sabathia vs. Beckett, Lackey or Lester. No further elaboration necessary.

2. Mariners-Rangers, April 10, 3pm, FOX (Regional):

Two major divisional challenges to the perennial champion Angels meet on the first weekend of the new season. Five days after the opener, the Mariners will be set to throw Cliff Lee or Felix Hernandez for certain in second 2010 start.

3. Rays-Red Sox, April 18, 130pm, TBS:

I cannot imagine the Red Sox have forgotten the upstart Rays ending their quest for back-to-back titles in the 2008 ALCS. Boston will probably also remember bold spring training predictions from Evan Longoria. These two teams now chase the Yankees, so every time they meet, it’s important.

4 & 5. Yankees-Angels or Mariners-White Sox, April 24, 4pm, FOX (Regional):

The Yankees and Angels have a lot of postseason history, with the Yanks finally topping Anaheim in the 2009 ALCS after losing to them in the 2002 and 2005 LDS – as well as constantly throughout the regular season this past decade.

The Mariners and White Sox have excellent and deep starting staffs, and both teams can potentially do damage in the 2010 AL.

6. Angels-Red Sox, May 3, 7pm, ESPN:

Look at the Angels recent history with New York and flip it versus Boston, all the way to the Halos finally besting the Red Sox in the 2009 ALDS — after losing to them in the same round in 2004, 2007 and 2008. These teams nearly always play stellar games. Former Angel icon John Lackey now pitching for Boston will up the intensity.

7. Twins-Yankees, May 16, 1pm, TBS:

The Yanks have stomped out Minnesota’s postseason dreams multiple times in the 21st century, including again in 2009. This will be their first series meeting in 2010.

8. Red Sox-Phillies, May 23, 1pm, TBS:

A matchup of two of the past three world champions based in big markets. A great regional interleague battle between two teams who’d love to unseat the Yankees come October.

9. Cardinals-Cubs, May 30, 220pm, TBS:

This is the only series these bitter rivals face off prior to the All-Star break. Few disagree that they are the two best teams in the NL Central as we look toward the 2010 campaign.

10. Angels-Mariners, June 5, 4pm, FOX (Regional):

Arguably the two best teams in the AL West match-up in the northwest. Chone Figgins, who played his entire eight year career with Anaheim, goes up against his former franchise.

11. Dodgers-Red Sox, June 19, 4pm, FOX (Regional):

Manny returns to Boston. That should say it all. Other than that, a great Interleague matchup between two legendary coastal clubs that just might meet in the Fall Classic.

MLB National TV Schedule (FOX, ESPN, TBS)

Sat, Apr 10	3:10 pm	New York Yankees	Tampa Bay Rays	FOX
Sat, Apr 10	3:10 pm	Seattle Mariners	Texas Rangers	FOX
Sat, Apr 10	3:10 pm	St. Louis Cardinals	Milwaukee Brewers	FOX
Sun, Apr 11	1:40 pm	New York Yankees	Tampa Bay Rays	TBS
Sun, Apr 11	8:05 pm	St. Louis Cardinals	Milwaukee Brewers	ESPN
Sat, Apr 17	4:10 pm	Chicago White Sox	Cleveland Indians	FOX
Sat, Apr 17	4:10 pm	New York Mets	St. Louis Cardinals	FOX
Sat, Apr 17	4:10 pm	San Francisco Giants	Los Angeles Dodgers	FOX
Sun, Apr 18	1:35 pm	Tampa Bay Rays	Boston Red Sox	TBS
Sun, Apr 18	8:05 pm	New York Mets	St. Louis Cardinals	ESPN
Mon, Apr 19	7:10 pm	Chicago Cubs	New York Mets	ESPN
Sat, Apr 24	4:10 pm	New York Yankees	Los Angeles Angels	FOX
Sat, Apr 24	4:10 pm	Seattle Mariners	Chicago White Sox	FOX
Sun, Apr 25	2:10 pm	Chicago Cubs	Milwaukee Brewers	TBS
Sun, Apr 25	8:05 pm	Atlanta Braves	New York Mets	ESPN
Mon, Apr 26	7:10 pm	Los Angeles Dodgers	New York Mets	ESPN
Sat, May 1	3:10 pm	Houston Astros	Atlanta Braves	FOX
Sat, May 1	3:10 pm	New York Mets	Philadelphia Phillies	FOX
Sat, May 1	3:10 pm	Texas Rangers	Seattle Mariners	FOX
Sun, May 2	1:05 pm	Chicago White Sox	New York Yankees	TBS
Sun, May 2	8:05 pm	New York Mets	Philadelphia Phillies	ESPN
Mon, May 3	7:10 pm	Los Angeles Angels	Boston Red Sox	ESPN
Sat, May 8	3:10 pm	Atlanta Braves	Philadelphia Phillies	FOX
Sat, May 8	3:10 pm	New York Yankees	Boston Red Sox	FOX
Sun, May 9	1:35 pm	Atlanta Braves	Philadelphia Phillies	TBS
Sun, May 9	8:05 pm	New York Yankees	Boston Red Sox	ESPN
Mon, May 10	7:05 pm	New York Yankees	Detroit Tigers	ESPN
Sat, May 15	4:10 pm	Seattle Mariners	Tampa Bay Rays	FOX
Sat, May 15	4:10 pm	Philadelphia Phillies	Milwaukee Brewers	FOX
Sat, May 15	4:10 pm	Houston Astros	San Francisco Giants	FOX
Sun, May 16	1:05 pm	Minnesota Twins	New York Yankees	TBS
Sun, May 16	8:05 pm	Philadelphia Phillies	Milwaukee Brewers	ESPN
Mon, May 17	7:05 pm	Boston Red Sox	New York Yankees	ESPN
Sat, May 22	7:10 pm	Boston Red Sox	Philadelphia Phillies	FOX
Sat, May 22	7:10 pm	Chicago Cubs	Texas Rangers	FOX
Sat, May 22	7:10 pm	Detroit Tigers	Los Angeles Dodgers	FOX
Sat, May 22	7:10 pm	New York Yankees	New York Mets	FOX
Sun, May 23	1:35 pm	Boston Red Sox	Philadelphia Phillies	TBS
Sun, May 23	8:05 pm	New York Yankees	New York Mets	ESPN
Mon, May 24	7:10 pm	Boston Red Sox	Tampa Bay Rays	ESPN
Sat, May 29	TBD	Seattle Mariners	Los Angeles Angels	FOX
Sat, May 29	4:10 pm	St. Louis Cardinals	Chicago Cubs	FOX
Sat, May 29	4:10 pm	Texas Rangers	Minnesota Twins	FOX
Sun, May 30	2:20 pm	St. Louis Cardinals	Chicago Cubs	TBS
Sun, May 30	8:05 pm	Texas Rangers	Minnesota Twins	ESPN2
Tue, Jun 1	7:10 pm	Philadelphia Phillies	Atlanta Braves	ESPN
Sat, Jun 5	4:10 pm	Los Angeles Angels	Seattle Mariners	FOX
Sat, Jun 5	4:10 pm	Florida Marlins	New York Mets	FOX
Sat, Jun 5	4:10 pm	Milwaukee Brewers	St. Louis Cardinals	FOX
Mon, Jun 7	7:05 pm	Boston Red Sox	Cleveland Indians	ESPN
Sat, Jun 12	4:10 pm	Chicago White Sox	Chicago Cubs	FOX
Sat, Jun 12	4:10 pm	Philadelphia Phillies	Boston Red Sox	FOX
Mon, Jun 14	8:15 pm	Seattle Mariners	St. Louis Cardinals	ESPN
Sat, Jun 19	4:10 pm	Los Angeles Dodgers	Boston Red Sox	FOX
Sat, Jun 19	4:10 pm	Minnesota Twins	Philadelphia Phillies	FOX
Mon, Jun 21	9:40 pm	New York Yankees	Arizona Diamondbacks	ESPN
Sat, Jun 26	7:10 pm	Boston Red Sox	San Francisco Giants	FOX
Sat, Jun 26	7:10 pm	Chicago Cubs	Chicago White Sox	FOX
Sat, Jun 26	7:10 pm	New York Yankees	Los Angeles Dodgers	FOX
Sat, Jul 3	4:10 pm	Florida Marlins	Atlanta Braves	FOX
Sat, Jul 3	4:10 pm	Milwaukee Brewers	St. Louis Cardinals	FOX
Sat, Jul 3	4:10 pm	Tampa Bay Rays	Minnesota Twins	FOX
Sun, Jul 4	8:15 pm	Kansas City Royals	Los Angeles Angels	ESPN
Mon, Jul 5	7:10 pm	Boston Red Sox	Tampa Bay Rays	ESPN
Sat, Jul 10	4:10 pm	Chicago Cubs	Los Angeles Dodgers	FOX
Sat, Jul 10	4:10 pm	Minnesota Twins	Detroit Tigers	FOX
Sat, Jul 10	4:10 pm	Atlanta Braves	New York Mets	FOX
Sun, Jul 11	8:05 pm	Chicago Cubs	Los Angeles Dodgers	ESPN
Sat, Jul 17	4:10 pm	Los Angeles Dodgers	St. Louis Cardinals	FOX
Sat, Jul 17	4:10 pm	Tampa Bay Rays	New York Yankees	FOX
Sun, Jul 18	6:05 pm	Philadelphia Phillies	Chicago Cubs	ESPN
Mon, Jul 19	8:15 pm	Philadelphia Phillies	St. Louis Cardinals	ESPN
Sat, Jul 24	4:10 pm	Colorado Rockies	Philadelphia Phillies	FOX
Sat, Jul 24	4:10 pm	Minnesota Twins	Baltimore Orioles	FOX
Sat, Jul 24	4:10 pm	New York Mets	Los Angeles Dodgers	FOX
Mon, Jul 26	7:05 pm	New York Yankees	Cleveland Indians	ESPN
Sat, Jul 31	4:10 pm	Los Angeles Dodgers	San Francisco Giants	FOX
Sat, Jul 31	4:10 pm	Seattle Mariners	Minnesota Twins	FOX
Sat, Jul 31	4:10 pm	Detroit Tigers	Boston Red Sox	FOX
Mon, Aug 2	7:10 pm	New York Mets	Atlanta Braves	ESPN
Sat, Aug 7	4:10 pm	San Francisco Giants	Atlanta Braves	FOX
Sat, Aug 7	4:10 pm	Boston Red Sox	New York Yankees	FOX
Mon, Aug 9	7:10 pm	St. Louis Cardinals	Cincinnati Reds	ESPN
Sat, Aug 14	4:10 pm	Chicago Cubs	St. Louis Cardinals	FOX
Sat, Aug 14	4:10 pm	San Diego Padres	San Francisco Giants	FOX
Sat, Aug 14	4:10 pm	Baltimore Orioles	Tampa Bay Rays	FOX
Wed, Aug 18	7:05 pm	Detroit Tigers	New York Yankees	ESPN
Sat, Aug 21	4:10 pm	Atlanta Braves	Chicago Cubs	FOX
Sat, Aug 21	4:10 pm	Texas Rangers	Baltimore Orioles	FOX
Sat, Aug 21	4:10 pm	Los Angeles Angels	Minnesota Twins	FOX
Sat, Aug 28	4:10 pm	Philadelphia Phillies	San Diego Padres	FOX
Sat, Aug 28	4:10 pm	Florida Marlins	Atlanta Braves	FOX
Sat, Aug 28	4:10 pm	Minnesota Twins	Seattle Mariners	FOX
Wed, Sep 1	7:10 pm	New York Mets	Atlanta Braves	ESPN
Sat, Sep 4	4:10 pm	Los Angeles Angels	Oakland Athletics	FOX
Sat, Sep 4	4:10 pm	New York Mets	Chicago Cubs	FOX
Sat, Sep 4	4:10 pm	Texas Rangers	Minnesota Twins	FOX
Wed, Sep 8	7:10 pm	Tampa Bay Rays	Boston Red Sox	ESPN
Sat, Sep 11	TBD	Seattle Mariners	Los Angeles Angels	FOX
Sat, Sep 11	4:10 pm	St. Louis Cardinals	Atlanta Braves	FOX
Sat, Sep 11	4:10 pm	Philadelphia Phillies	New York Mets	FOX
Wed, Sep 15	8:15 pm	Chicago Cubs	St. Louis Cardinals	ESPN
Sat, Sep 18	4:10 pm	Atlanta Braves	New York Mets	FOX
Sat, Sep 18	4:10 pm	Colorado Rockies	Los Angeles Dodgers	FOX
Sat, Sep 18	4:10 pm	Detroit Tigers	Chicago White Sox	FOX
Wed, Sep 22	7:05 pm	Tampa Bay Rays	New York Yankees	ESPN
Wed, Sep 29	8:10 pm	Boston Red Sox	Chicago White Sox	ESPN

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* – Jake Peavy photo credit: Viva la Vidro

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