“Friday Night Baseball” on Apple TV is back for 2026! This week's Friday slate features an afternoon affair at Wrigley Field between two long-time rivals and an AL East showdown that could have Wild Card implications by season's end.
Cardinals at Cubs -- (Chicago beat St. Louis, 3-0)
The Cardinals and Cubs have been major rivals for decades. But when they meet with something on the line, the drama only gets juicier. And that's the case today, when they battle in an afternoon tilt at Wrigley with both teams in the thick of the postseason chase. The Cubs (71-51) hold the top NL Wild Card spot entering Friday, with the Cardinals (61-60) three games back of the third spot but still with a shot to play in October. Both teams come in hot, too. Chicago, led by NL MVP candidate Pete Crow-Armstrong (27 homers, .920 OPS), has won eight of its past 10 games and is 17-9 since the All-Star break. St. Louis comes in having won seven of its past 10 and is getting big contributions from Alec Burleson, who has a 1.193 OPS in August and has an MLB-best 30 doubles on the season.
On the mound for the visiting Cards will be lefty Matthew Liberatore (5-9, 5.15 ERA), who struggled in his last start (five earned runs vs. the Rockies) but pitched six scoreless innings against the Blue Jays in the start before that. Pitching for the Cubs will be righty Clay Holmes (4-5, 2.86), who was acquired from the Mets at the Trade Deadline and had a rocky debut with the Cubs in his first outing after a nearly three-month IL stint, allowing four earned runs in four innings against the Royals. But earlier this season, Holmes had a stretch of eight straight starts in which he allowed two or fewer runs.
Yankees at Blue Jays, 7:15 p.m. ET (WATCH HERE)
For all the talk of how the Blue Jays have struggled to get going this season, the defending AL champs enter a three-game set against their division rivals within striking distance of earning another shot at October glory. The Yankees (68-53) appear to be cruising to the top AL Wild Card spot, as they hold an eight-game lead entering Friday. The Blue Jays (59-64), meanwhile, are just two games back of the third Wild Card spot, but they have four teams ahead of them. So, with the clock ticking for their chance to make a run, every game brings urgency. And tonight, they have a chance to make something happen as they host the Yankees.
Looking to tame New York's bats will be righty Shane Bieber (3-2, 5.48 ERA), who will try to find consistency after an uneven second half so far (he allowed five earned runs in his last start against the Phillies). On the mound for the Yankees will be righty Gerrit Cole (6-5, 3.35 ERA), who looked great in his last start, when he allowed just two runs in seven innings against the Braves while striking out nine.
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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.
How can I watch?
Fans with an Apple TV subscription can access “Friday Night Baseball” through the Apple TV app by choosing any of these three options:
- Launch the Apple TV app and select the game directly from there.
- From the MLB.TV app, tap on Apple TV Game to be redirected to the Apple TV app (where available).
- Visit https://tv.apple.com/ and log in with or create an Apple ID.
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.