“Friday Night Baseball” on Apple TV is back for 2026! This week’s slate features a game that could serve as a World Series preview — with the AL Cy Young frontrunner on the mound, no less — plus a matchup in which the hottest team in baseball will look to start a new winning streak.
It’s not hard to see these teams meeting in October. Both are in a strong Wild Card position, and both are close enough to first place to make a division title an attainable goal. That gives this already intriguing matchup some extra drama. Throw in AL Cy Young frontrunner Cam Schlittler (9-6, 2.20 ERA) on the hill for the Yankees, and the allure climbs another notch. Schlittler has been excellent this season, posting an AL-best 2.20 ERA and a tied-for-the-best 0.96 WHIP. He’ll face a Phillies lineup that includes NL home run leader Kyle Schwarber (33 dingers) and the ever-dangerous Bryce Harper (.856 OPS). Meanwhile, the Phillies will have a strong mound presence, too, with lefty Jesús Luzardo (9-4, 3.43 ERA) toeing the rubber, having not allowed more than one earned run in a game since June 16. So, this one should be entertaining all around. And we’ve not even mentioned New York slugger Ben Rice, whose .956 OPS ranks second in baseball.
The Red Sox turned their season around with a 15-game winning streak and now have a light grip on the third AL Wild Card. They’ll look to start a new surge against the defending AL champion Blue Jays, who have essentially fallen out of the playoff hunt amid a season of major injuries and underperformance. Still, Toronto would love to keep the Sox from continuing their Cinderella run toward the postseason. On the mound for the visiting Blue Jays will be righty Trey Yesavage (4-5, 3.78 ERA), who’s coming off a six-inning, nine-strikeout performance against the White Sox. Pitching for the Red Sox will be lefty Patrick Sandoval (0-0, 4.82 ERA), who’s making just his third start of the season. Someone to watch: Boston’s Willson Contreras, who has a team-leading .381 average and 1.252 OPS this month.
With MLB and Apple continuing their partnership in 2026, Apple TV will once again be bringing baseball fans a weekly Friday night doubleheader. “Friday Night Baseball,” which includes live pre- and postgame shows, will stream exclusively on Apple TV and be free from local broadcast restrictions.
Fans with an Apple TV subscription can access “Friday Night Baseball” through the Apple TV app by choosing any of these three options:
Do I need to pay to watch live games on Apple TV?
Yes. An Apple TV subscription is required to view live games.
Do I need an Apple account to watch the games?
Yes. You need to have an Apple ID. Your Apple ID is the account you use across all your Apple devices, including your iPhone. Learn how to create a new Apple ID here.
How do I sign in to watch the games on Apple TV?
Log in with your Apple ID. Learn how to watch Friday Night Baseball here.
On what devices can I watch the games?
See all the ways to watch Apple TV here.
What if I have a question about Apple TV?
If you have any questions regarding your account, subscription or other issues, click here.
