Monday, April 6, is opening day at MLB ballparks across the country, and ESPN and ESPN2 combine to present four national TV games: the Toronto Blue Jays at the N.Y. Yankees (ESPN), the N.Y. Mets at the Washington Nationals (ESPN), the Cleveland Indians at the Houston Astros (ESPN) and the 2014 World Series champion San Francisco Giants at the Arizona Diamondbacks (ESPN2).
The Hot Stove could cause major climate change for some Major League Baseball teams heading into the 2015 season.
The San Diego Padres loaded up with pitcher James Shields, and outfielders Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and Wil Myers. The Chicago Cubs brought on manager Joe Maddon and prized pitcher Jon Lester. The St. Louis Cardinals countered by adding Jason Heyward. Max Scherzer gives the Washington Nationals the best rotation in baseball. The Boston Red Sox bring Pablo Sandoval, Hanley Ramirez and Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo into the fold. The Seattle Mariners add Nelson Cruz’s bat to the lineup. The New York Yankees have Alex Rodriguez back after his season-long suspension. Yay for them.
Only a few months on the job, new commissioner Rob Manfred is putting his stamp on the game, introducing new rules to speed up the pace of play. He’s also contemplating the possibility of a shortened 154-game regular season.
The regular season begins April 5 on ESPN2 with a Sunday Night Baseball visit to Wrigley Field — which is undergoing a four-year renovation — as the Cardinals visit the Cubs. ESPN, ESPN2, FOX Sports 1 and MLB Network air national TV games throughout the regular season. FOX will have its early summer slate of Saturday primetime games, and TBS returns with Sunday afternoon games beginning near the All-Star Break.
MLB Opening Day 2015 TV schedule on ESPN networks
April 5
Cardinals at Cubs (8pm ET, ESPN2)
April 6
Blue Jays at Yankees (1pm ET, ESPN)
Mets at Nationals (4pm ET, ESPN)
Indians at Astros (7pm ET, ESPN)
Giants at Diamondbacks (10pm ET, ESPN2)
MLB on ESPN Networks 2015 Early-Season Schedule
| Date | Start (US/Eastern) |
Network | |
| 04/05/2015 | 8:00 PM | ESPN2 | Opening Night Baseball on ESPN Presented by Scotts Wrigley Field Chicago, IL USA St. Louis Cardinals VS. Chicago Cubs |
| 04/06/2015 | 1:00 PM | ESPN | Opening Day Baseball on ESPN Presented by Scotts Yankee Stadium Bronx, NY USA Toronto Blue Jays VS. New York Yankees |
| 04/06/2015 | 4:00 PM | ESPN | Opening Day Baseball on ESPN Presented by Scotts RFK Stadium Washington, DC USA New York Mets VS. Washington Nationals |
| 04/06/2015 | 7:00 PM | ESPN | Opening Day Baseball on ESPN Presented by Scotts Minute Maid Park Houston, TX USA Cleveland Indians VS. Houston Astros |
| 04/06/2015 | 10:00 PM | ESPN2 | Opening Day Baseball on ESPN Presented by Scotts Bank One Ballpark Phoenix, AZ USA San Francisco Giants VS. Arizona Diamondbacks |
| 04/08/2015 | 7:00 PM | ESPN2 | ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball Presented by USAA Citizens Bank Park Philadelphia, PA USA Boston Red Sox VS. Philadelphia Phillies |
| 04/08/2015 | 10:00 PM | ESPN2 | ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball Dodger Stadium Los Angeles, CA USA San Diego Padres VS. Los Angeles Dodgers |
| 04/12/2015 | 8:00 PM | ESPN | ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball Presented by Taco Bell Yankee Stadium Bronx, NY USA Boston Red Sox VS. New York Yankees |
| 04/13/2015 | 7:00 PM | ESPN | ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball Presented by USAA Oriole Park at Camden Yards Baltimore, MD USA New York Yankees VS. Baltimore Orioles |
| 04/15/2015 | 10:00 PM | ESPN2 | ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball Dodger Stadium Los Angeles, CA USA Seattle Mariners VS. Los Angeles Dodgers |
| 04/19/2015 | 8:00 PM | ESPN | ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball Presented by Taco Bell New Busch Stadium St. Louis, MO USA Cincinnati Reds VS. St. Louis Cardinals |
| 04/20/2015 | 7:00 PM | ESPN | ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball Presented by USAA |
| 04/22/2015 | 7:00 PM | ESPN | ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball |
| 04/26/2015 | 8:00 PM | ESPN | ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball Presented by Taco Bell Yankee Stadium Bronx, NY USA New York Mets VS. New York Yankees |
| 04/27/2015 | 7:00 PM | ESPN | ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball Presented by USAA |
| 04/29/2015 | 8:00 PM | ESPN | ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball |
| 05/03/2015 | 8:00 PM | ESPN | ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball Presented by Taco Bell Fenway Park Boston, MA USA New York Yankees VS. Boston Red Sox |
| 05/04/2015 | 8:00 PM | ESPN | ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball Presented by USAA |
| 05/06/2015 | 7:00 PM | ESPN | ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball |
| 05/10/2015 | 8:00 PM | ESPN | ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball Presented by Taco Bell Comerica Park Detroit, MI USA Kansas City Royals VS. Detroit Tigers |
| 05/11/2015 | 7:00 PM | ESPN | ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball Presented by USAA |
| 05/13/2015 | 8:00 PM | ESPN | ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball |
| 05/17/2015 | 8:00 PM | ESPN | ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball Presented by Taco Bell New Busch Stadium St. Louis, MO USA Detroit Tigers VS. St. Louis Cardinals |
| 05/18/2015 | 7:00 PM | ESPN | ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball Presented by USAA |
| 05/20/2015 | 7:00 PM | ESPN | ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball |
| 05/24/2015 | 8:00 PM | ESPN | ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball Presented by Taco Bell Yankee Stadium Bronx, NY USA Texas Rangers VS. New York Yankees |
| 05/25/2015 | 1:00 PM | ESPN | Major League Baseball Holiday Game |
| 05/25/2015 | 4:00 PM | ESPN | Major League Baseball Holiday Game |
| 05/26/2015 | 7:00 PM | ESPN | ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball Presented by USAA |
| 05/26/2015 | 10:00 PM | ESPN | ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball |
| 05/31/2015 | 8:00 PM | ESPN2 | ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball Presented by Taco Bell Angel Stadium of Anaheim Anaheim, CA USA Detroit Tigers VS. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim |
