By Ryan Berenz
The long grind of baseball’s regular season is over, and now the fun begins for the eight teams that have qualified for postseason play. The best-of-five American and National League Division Series begin Wednesday, Oct. 6, with three games, starting with the AL East Champion Tampa Bay Rays against the AL wild-card Texas Rangers at 1:30pm ET. TBS has exclusive coverage of the Division Series (TNT will air games in case schedules overlap) through as late as Oct. 13. Here’s the release from TBS and complete Division Series TV schedule after the jump:
TBS Announces Telecast Schedule and Broadcasters for its Exclusive Coverage of the MLB Division Series
The action gets underway on Wednesday, October 6 with a tripleheader starting at 1:30 p.m. (ET)
The Major League Baseball (MLB) Postseason gets underway on Wednesday, October 6 with exclusive Division Series coverage on TBS starting with tripleheader action featuring the best of the American League (AL) and National League (NL). At 1 p.m. (ET), TBS will air the pre-game show TBS MLB On Deck featuring Matt Winer (host), Dennis Eckersley (analyst), Cal Ripken (analyst) and David Wells (analyst). The network will also conclude the day’s action with the post-game show Inside MLB. (All times EST)
1:30 p.m. Tampa Bay Rays (AL East Division Champions) will host the Texas Rangers (AL West Division Champions) at 1:30 p.m. (ET). Don Orsillo (play-by-play), Buck Martinez (analyst) and Marc Fein (reporter) will call the action.
5:00 p.m. Philadelphia Phillies (NL East Division Champions) host the Cincinnati Reds (NL Central Division Champions) at 5 p.m. (ET). Brian Anderson (play-by-play) will call the game alongside Joe Simpson (analyst) with David Aldridge reporting.
8:30 p.m. New York Yankees (AL Wild Card winner) will travel to Minneapolis to face the Minnesota Twins (American League Central Division Champions) at 8:30 p.m. (ET). Ernie Johnson will handle the play-by-play duties; Ron Darling and John Smoltz will serve as game analysts with Craig Sager reporting.
MLB Postseason action continues on Thursday, October 7 with another tripleheader. TBS MLB on Deck will preview the games with Winer, Eckersley, Ripken and Wells at 2 p.m. (ET). Following the final game of the day, Inside MLB will wrap up the day’s results.
2:30 p.m. Texas Rangers @ Tampa Bay Rays, Game #2
Announcers: Don Orsillo (play-by-play), Buck Martinez (analyst) and Marc Fein (reporter)
6 p.m. New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins, Game #2
Announcers: Ernie Johnson (play-by-play), Ron Darling (analyst), John Smoltz (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)
9:30 p.m. Atlanta Braves (NL Wild Card winner) will travel west to face the San Francisco Giants (NL West Division Champions) in their NLDS Game #1 at 9:30 p.m. (ET) with Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Bob Brenly (analyst) and Tom Verducci (reporter) calling the game.
MLB Postseason action continues on Friday, October 8 with a doubleheader. TBS MLB on Deck will preview the games with Winer, Eckersley, Ripken and Wells at 5:30 p.m. (ET). Following the final game of the day, Inside MLB will wrap up the day’s results.
6 p.m. Cincinnati Reds @ Philadelphia Phillies, Game #2
Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Joe Simpson (analyst) and David Aldridge (reporter)
9:30 p.m. Atlanta Braves @ San Francisco Giants, Game #2
Announcers: Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Bob Brenly (analyst) and Tom Verducci (reporter)
MLB Postseason action continues on Saturday, October 9 with another doubleheader. TBS MLB on Deck will preview the games with Winer, Eckersley, Ripken and Wells at 4:30 p.m. (ET). Following the final game of the day, Inside MLB will wrap up the day’s results.
5 p.m. Tampa Bay Rays @ Texas Rangers, Game #3
Announcers: Don Orsillo (play-by-play), Buck Martinez (analyst) and Marc Fein (reporter)
8:30 p.m. Minnesota Twins @ New York Yankees, Game #3
Announcers: Ernie Johnson (play-by-play), Ron Darling (analyst), John Smoltz (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)
Expect more releases tonight.
AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES
Tampa Bay Rays (East Division Champions) vs. Texas Rangers (West Division Champions)
Game 1: Wednesday October 6 – Tampa Bay at Texas, 1:37 p.m.
Game 2: Thursday, October 7 – Tampa Bay at Texas, 2:37 p.m.
Game 3: Saturday, October 9 – Texas at Tampa Bay, 5:07 p.m.
Game 4: Sunday, October 10 – Texas at Tampa Bay, TBA (if necessary)
Game 5: Tuesday, October 12 – Tampa Bay at Texas, TBA (if necessary)
TBS Announcers: Don Orsillo, Buck Martinez and Marc Fein
New York Yankees (Wild Card) vs. Minnesota Twins (Central Division Champions)
Game 1: Wednesday, October 6 – New York Yankees at Minnesota, 8:37 p.m.
Game 2: Thursday, October 7 – New York Yankees at Minnesota, 6:07 p.m.
Game 3: Saturday, October 9 – Minnesota at New York Yankees, 8:37 p.m.
Game 4: Sunday, October 10 – Minnesota at New York Yankees, TBA (if necessary)
Game 5: Tuesday, October 12 – New York Yankees at Minnesota, TBA (if necessary)
TBS Announcers: Ernie Johnson, Jr., John Smoltz, Ron Darling and Craig Sager
NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES
Cincinnati Reds (Central Division Champions) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (East Division Champions)
Game 1: Wednesday, October 6 – Cincinnati at Philadelphia, 5:07 p.m.
Game 2: Friday, October 8 – Cincinnati at Philadelphia, 6:07 p.m.
Game 3: Sunday, October 10 – Philadelphia at Cincinnati, TBA
Game 4: Monday, October 11 – Philadelphia at Cincinnati, TBA (if necessary)
Game 5: Wednesday, October 13 – Cincinnati at Philadelphia, TBA (if necessary)
TBS Announcers: Brian Anderson, Joe Simpson and David Aldridge
Atlanta Braves (Wild Card) vs. San Francisco Giants (West Division Champions)
Game 1: Thursday, October 7 – Atlanta at San Francisco, 9:37 p.m.
Game 2: Friday, October 8 – Atlanta at San Francisco, 9:37 p.m.
Game 3: Sunday, October 10 – San Francisco at Atlanta, TBA
Game 4: Monday, October 11 – San Francisco at Atlanta, TBA (if necessary)
Game 5: Wednesday, October 13 – Atlanta at San Francisco, TBA (if necessary)
TBS Announcers: Dick Stockton, Bob Brenly and Tom Verducci
