Baseball is finally creeping back. It’s that weird time of year where the weather in Philly is still gray and miserable, but the 2026 Philadelphia Phillies are already down in Clearwater, stretching out and dodging afternoon thunderstorms. If you’re like me, you’ve probably spent the last few weeks staring at a blank calendar wondering when you can finally stop watching old highlights and start seeing actual live innings.
Honestly, the Phillies spring training tv schedule is a bit of a moving target early on. The team just dropped their report dates—pitchers and catchers on February 11, full squad on the 16th—and we finally have a clear picture of how to watch the Grapefruit League action from your couch.
Where to Find the Games This Year
Most of the heavy lifting for the local broadcast remains with NBC Sports Philadelphia. They typically pick up the vast majority of home games at BayCare Ballpark. Because the Phillies own a chunk of the network, they make sure the cameras are rolling when the stars are in town.
You’ve also got the MLB Network factor. They love the Phillies because, let’s be real, Bryce Harper is a ratings magnet. They’ll often simulcast the NBC feed for a national audience, but watch out for those annoying local blackouts if you're trying to use MLB.TV within the Philly zip codes.
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- NBC Sports Philadelphia / NBCSP+: Your primary home for Clearwater broadcasts.
- The MyTeams App: Where you'll stream if you're an authenticated cable subscriber on the go.
- 94.1 WIP: For those afternoon games when you're stuck at work and need Scott Franzke’s voice to keep you sane.
- MLB Network: Great for out-of-market fans, though the schedule is often "to be announced" until about a week before.
The Big Dates You Can't Miss
The schedule officially kicks off on February 21 against the Blue Jays in Dunedin. Don't expect a full TV production for that one; road games in small spring parks are notoriously hit-or-miss for cameras. The real party starts the next day.
Sunday, February 22 is the home opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates. This is usually the first "full" broadcast of the spring on NBC Sports Philadelphia. It’s the day we get to see if the new bullpen arms actually have movement on their sinkers or if we're in for a long March.
There's a really cool addition this year too. On March 4, the Phillies are playing Team Canada in a World Baseball Classic exhibition. This isn't your standard spring game. The energy is higher, and because it’s a WBC-affiliated event, the TV coverage is usually a bit more polished.
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Then there’s St. Patrick’s Day. March 17 against the Twins. If you haven't seen a Phillies spring game on St. Paddy's, it's basically a sea of green jerseys and questionable decision-making in the Tiki Bar behind left field. NBC Sports Philadelphia almost always carries this one because the visuals are just too good to pass up.
Why the Schedule Feels Fragmented
It drives people crazy. You look at the schedule and see a Tuesday game against the Tigers and it says "No TV." Why?
Basically, it comes down to logistics. Unlike the regular season where every single game is a multi-camera production with a full crew, spring training is a "pick and choose" scenario. The Phillies and NBC Sports Philadelphia prioritize home games because the infrastructure is already wired into BayCare Ballpark. When the team travels to the East Coast of Florida—like those trips to play the Nationals or Marlins—don't count on seeing a broadcast. Those are usually "radio only" affairs.
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2026 Key TV & Radio Windows
While the granular, inning-by-inning broadcast list usually gets finalized in late January, we can look at the 29-game slate and see the lock-ins.
- Home Opener (Feb 22): Almost certain TV coverage.
- Yankees in Clearwater (March 1 & 10): These are "Premium" games. Expect full TV crews for both.
- Spring Breakout (March 21): This is the prospect showcase. MLB has been pushing this hard, so expect a stream on MLB.com or a specialized broadcast.
- The Finale (March 23): Against the Rays. This is the dress rehearsal before the team flies north for Opening Day against the Rangers.
Getting Around the Blackouts
If you’re a cord-cutter, the Phillies spring training tv schedule can feel like a maze. If you don't have a standard cable package, FuboTV or YouTube TV usually carry NBC Sports Philadelphia, but double-check your local listings.
For fans living outside the Philly market, MLB.TV is your best friend. They’ve been offering an "Offseason Package" for around $30 that covers the end of winter and carries you through the spring games. It’s a solid deal if you just want to see the young guys like Justin Crawford or Aidan Miller get their hacks in before they're sent down to Lehigh Valley or Reading.
Real Talk: Don't Expect Regular Season Quality
Just a heads up—spring training TV is different. The announcers are a bit more relaxed. You might hear Tom McCarthy interviewing a player in the dugout while the game is actually happening. You’ll see a lot of "non-roster invitees" wearing numbers like 97 or 84. It’s loose, it’s fun, and it’s a great way to learn the roster depth.
Actionable Next Steps
If you want to make sure you don't miss a single pitch from Clearwater, do these three things right now:
- Download the MLB App: Go into the settings and "Follow" the Phillies. This will push a notification to your phone 15 minutes before every game starts, telling you exactly which TV or radio station is carrying it.
- Check the "Schedule" tab on Phillies.com: They update the "Broadcast" column weekly as networks finalize their plans. If you see a TV icon next to the game, you're golden.
- Sync your calendar: Most team sites offer a "Sync to Calendar" feature. Use it. It’ll put the game times and broadcast info directly into your Google or Outlook calendar so you don't accidentally schedule a meeting during the 1:05 PM first pitch.