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)

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* – Jake Peavy photo credit: Viva la Vidro

Because of this incredible hardship that I must endure, the first time I look through the White Sox schedule I am always on the lookout for three very important acronyms: WGN, ESPN, and FOX. These are my precious National TV opportunities to watch the White Sox play, and I do everything in my power never to miss one of them.

I just took inventory of the White Sox 2009 National TV Schedule and decided that I’d throw a quick post together for any other White Sox fans out there for whom this is necessary information. A few key things to remember:

• All times are Central
• This is as of February 24, so is always subject to change
• A lot of the FOX games are subject to regional coverage (those bastards)
• The current dearth of games over the final two weeks of the season leads me to believe that FOX and ESPN hold out to schedule these games to see what races are hot. I assume that the AL Central will be hotly contested this year, and that the White Sox will be in the thick of it, so I anticipate some of these late-season games being moved to national TV.
• Chicago White Sox Complete 2009 Schedule

For those of you lucky enough to live in Chicago, or to live in a town where the White Sox are visiting this season (May 1-3! White Sox at Rangers! I’ll be there…) here is a quick resource where you can buy tickets if you want to take in an afternoon at the ballpark:

Chicago White Sox Tickets at StubHub

And now, onto the 2009 National TV schedule for your defending AL Central champion Chicago White Sox: