LA Dodgers and MVP Ohtani launch summer of live baseball on BBC

Defending World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers launched a summer of live Major League Baseball on the BBC when they met the New York Mets in July.

The Mets came out on top with an 8-3 win but the Dodgers still lead the National League again in 2026, with last season's Most Valuable Player, Shohei Ohtani, to the fore as they target a third consecutive World Series title.

The game set up a run of 10 consecutive live Sunday night MLB matches on the BBC, including the season finale on September 27 before four post-season games the following week.

This season, the MLB Bases Covered Live team is again led by play-by-play announcer Melanie Newman, with former St Louis Cardinals first baseman Xavier Scruggs and Maccabees guitarist Felix White alongside to call the action for seasoned baseball fans and new viewers.

They will be watching the biggest names in baseball and keeping viewers up to date with all the key stories as the regular season enters its critical final weeks with teams fighting for their place in the post-season play-offs.

Major League Baseball has enjoyed a rise in popularity with fans around the world this summer.

During the 2026 Fifa World Cup, baseball played an unexpectedly large role in the experiences of football fans and players from the UK as they enjoyed memorable outings to ballparks across the US.

After defeating Haiti in their opening game in nearby Foxborough, Scotland's Tartan Army took over Fenway Park in Boston to celebrate while watching the Red Sox take on the Texas Rangers.

England manager Thomas Tuchel threw out the first pitch at Kaufmann Stadium when several members of the England squad watched the Kansas City Royals play the St Louis Cardinals.

(all times BST)

Wednesday, 30 September (1900 - 0100 BST)

Wild Card Series Doubleheader

Philadelphia Phillies @ Atlanta Braves (1900 BST)

Chicago White Sox @ Houston Astros (2200 BST)

Watch on BBC iPlayer, follow on the BBC Sport website and app

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Saturday, 3 October (time to be confirmed)

Division Series Double Header

BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app

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Sunday, 27 September

Arizona Diamondbacks 4-9 San Diego Padres

Watch again on BBC iPlayer, follow again on the BBC Sport website and app

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Sunday, 20 September

Boston Red Sox 1-5 Tampa Bay Rays

Watch again on BBC iPlayer, follow again on the BBC Sport website and app

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Sunday, 13 September

New York Mets 0-2 New York Yankees

Watch again on BBC iPlayer, watch again on YouTube, external, follow again on the BBC Sport website and app

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Sunday, 6 September

Chicago Cubs 3-10 Miami Marlins

Watch again on BBC iPlayer, follow again on the BBC Sport website and app

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Sunday, 30 August

Boston Red Sox 1-16 New York Yankees

Watch again on BBC iPlayer, follow again on the BBC Sport website and app

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Sunday, 23 August

St Louis Cardinals 4-6 Philadelphia Phillies

Follow again on BBC Sport website and app

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Sunday, 16 August

New York Yankees 4-3 Toronto Blue Jays

Follow again on BBC Sport website and app

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Sunday, 9 August

Toronto Blue Jays 6-7 Philadelphia Phillies

Follow again on BBC Sport website and app

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Sunday, 2 August

New York Yankees 2-1 Chicago Cubs

Follow again on BBC Sport website and app

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Sunday, 26 July

Los Angeles Dodgers 3-8 New York Mets

Follow again on the BBC Sport website and app

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