FOX Sports to broadcast 15 spring Cards games

ST. LOUIS -- More than half of the Cardinals' 28 spring games will be televised this year after FOX Sports Midwest agreed to expand its Grapefruit League coverage.

FOX Sports Midwest is expected to announce next week that it will televise 15 spring games in 2014. That is an increase of five games over last year's slate and 10 more than were shown in '12. It also represents the most expansive Spring Training telecast schedule in the team's history.

"Anticipation for the 2014 Cardinals season is as high as we've seen," said Jack Donovan, general manager and senior vice president for FOX Sports Midwest. "There's a tremendous appetite for Cardinals content, and we'll help feed it by bringing fans the majority of Spring Training games."

In addition to the 15 games that will be televised on FOX Sports Midwest, ESPN has already picked up the Cardinals' March 17 road game against the Red Sox. In total, 22 of the Cards' 28 spring games will be available on either local TV or radio (KMOX). All of the games selected for telecast by FOX Sports Midwest will be played at Roger Dean Stadium.

The increase in Spring Training TV exposure will put St. Louis in an enviable spot. Last year, only four teams had as many as 15 spring games televised in their local market.

As reported by MLB.com last month, the Cardinals are expected to bring back every member of their 2013 broadcast team and have longtime national broadcaster Tim McCarver work in the booth for a select number of games. The Cards have not yet made any official announcements regarding these plans.