The ritual of cracking a cold one and settling in for a 7 p.m. first pitch on ESPN has been a staple of American summers for decades. It was a constant. You knew where the big game was. But honestly, if you’re looking for the espn sunday night baseball schedule for the 2026 season, you’re going to notice something weird: it doesn't exist. Not in the way you remember it, anyway.
Major League Baseball just went through a massive broadcasting shakeup that effectively ended the 30-year run of Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN. It’s kinda wild to think about. For the first time since 1990, the "Mother Ship" has moved away from the Sunday night window, handing the keys over to NBC and Peacock. If you tune into ESPN at 7 p.m. this Sunday expecting a game, you’re probably going to see SportsCenter or a documentary instead.
Where Did the Games Go?
So, what happened? Basically, ESPN opted out of the traditional Sunday night package to pivot toward a more flexible, weeknight-heavy schedule. They haven't abandoned baseball, but they've changed how they deliver it. For the 2026 season, ESPN is focused on "exclusive weeknight windows." Think Monday or Wednesday nights. They’re banking on the idea that fans want national games during the work week when there's less competition from other sports.
NBC, on the other hand, is leaning hard into the "Sunday Night" branding. They are pairing MLB with their existing Sunday Night Football and Sunday Night Basketball (NBA) rights. It’s a total takeover of the night.
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The New ESPN MLB "Key Date" Schedule
Even though the weekly espn sunday night baseball schedule is a thing of the past, ESPN kept the rights to 30 exclusive national games. They aren't just random matchups; they are targeting massive "tentpole" events that actually draw ratings.
- Jackie Robinson Day (April 15): This is a big one. ESPN is exclusively airing the New York Mets against the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers at 10 p.m. ET.
- Memorial Day (May 25): Catch the Yankees and Aaron Judge visiting the Kansas City Royals at 3:30 p.m. ET.
- Second-Half Opener (July 16): Right after the All-Star break, the Mets play the Phillies at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
- The Little League Classic (August 23): This is the only true "Sunday Night" game ESPN has left. It’s the annual tradition in Williamsport, PA. This year it’s the Braves vs. the Brewers at 7 p.m. ET.
The NBC Takeover: The Real Sunday Night Schedule
If you are specifically looking for what to watch on Sunday nights, you’ve got to switch your remote over to NBC or fire up the Peacock app. Their 2026 lineup is stacked, and they are doing things a little differently than ESPN did. They’ve locked in 25 games, many of which are exclusive to Peacock to drive subscriptions.
Here is what the primetime Sunday night landscape looks like now:
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- March 29: Cleveland Guardians at Seattle Mariners (7 p.m. - Peacock)
- April 12: Cleveland Guardians at Atlanta Braves (7 p.m. - NBC/Peacock)
- May 31: Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals (7 p.m. - NBC/Peacock)
- June 28: N.Y. Yankees at Boston Red Sox (7 p.m. - NBC/Peacock)
- July 19: L.A. Dodgers at N.Y. Yankees (7 p.m. - NBC/Peacock)
You'll notice the heavy hitters—Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers—are still getting the primetime treatment. Some fans are annoyed about the move to Peacock, especially because the "Leadoff" morning games are also on that platform. It makes the "espn sunday night baseball schedule" searches a bit confusing for the casual fan who just wants to find the game.
The Secret Weapon: ESPN+ and Local Rights
The biggest news for 2026 isn't actually the national games. It’s what ESPN did with the money they saved by dropping Sunday nights. They basically took over the local streaming rights for six teams that were previously in "blackout" limbo: the Twins, Diamondbacks, Guardians, Rockies, Padres, and Mariners.
If you live in those markets, you can now stream your local team directly through ESPN+ or the ESPN DTC (Direct-to-Consumer) app. No cable required. This is a massive shift in how baseball is consumed. They also integrated MLB.TV into the ESPN app. So while you lose the Sunday night ritual, you gain the ability to watch almost any out-of-market game without leaving the ESPN ecosystem.
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Is the Sunday Night Tradition Dead?
Not exactly, but it’s definitely "different." The broadcast booth has changed, too. While Karl Ravech and Eduardo Pérez are still the voices of MLB on ESPN for their weeknight games, NBC is bringing in new blood. There is talk of Anthony Rizzo and Joey Votto joining the NBC/Peacock booth to give it a fresh, modern feel.
Fans used to complain that the espn sunday night baseball schedule was too focused on the AL East. Now that the rights are split between NBC’s Sunday night window and ESPN’s weeknight exclusives, we’re actually seeing a bit more variety in the teams featured.
How to Watch in 2026: A Quick Reality Check
If you’re trying to plan your viewing, don't just look for one channel. It’s a fragmented mess, but here’s how to navigate it:
- Check the Calendar: If it’s a random Wednesday or a holiday like Memorial Day, check ESPN.
- Sunday Night? Go straight to NBC or Peacock.
- The "Little League Classic": That’s your one and only remaining Sunday Night game on ESPN. Mark August 23 on your calendar.
- Local Fans: If you’re a fan of the "S6" (Padres, Mariners, etc.), your new home is the ESPN app.
The move away from a fixed espn sunday night baseball schedule is the end of an era. It’s sort of sad for those of us who grew up with the Jon Miller and Joe Morgan broadcasts, but the world is moving toward streaming and flex scheduling.
To stay on top of this, your best bet is to download the MLB app and sync it with your calendar. The league is getting much better at sending push notifications when a game is about to start, which is helpful since you now have to jump between three or four different apps just to find your team. If you haven't already, check if your mobile carrier offers a free subscription to MLB.TV or Peacock, as those deals are still active for most T-Mobile and Comcast customers.