“Friday Night Baseball” on Apple TV is back for 2026! This week's slate features the first-place Reds taking on the rebuilt Pirates in an NL Central showdown, plus a night cap that pits two of baseball's premier talents in Bobby Witt Jr. and Julio Rodríguez.
Reds at Pirates, 6:45 p.m. (WATCH HERE)
The Reds (20-11) have been one of baseball early surprises, having surged into first place in the NL Central as one of just four teams to reach 20 wins before May. Led by the dynamic duo of De La Cruz (10 homers, .920 OPS) and Stewart (nine homers, .943 OPS), Cincinnati's 42 long balls entering Friday are tied for fourth-most in MLB. The Reds are 7-3 in their past 10 games and have won 11 of their past 15 to climb atop the division. The Pirates (16-16), meanwhile, have lost five straight and will look to right the ship and return to the winning baseball that made them one of the pleasant surprises in the early weeks of the season. On the mound for Cincinnati will be righty Brady Singer (2-1; 4.97 ERA), while righty Mitch Keller (2-1; 3.18 ERA) will toe the rubber for Pittsburgh.
Royals at Mariners, 9:45 p.m. (WATCH HERE)
The Mariners (16-16) come into this series hot, having won six of their past seven games to pull back to .500 after a disappointing start. The same can be said for their start center fielder Rodríguez, who started slow but has hit .349 over hit past 10 games. It's been a similar story for slugging catcher Cal Raleigh, who has five homers and a .985 OPS over his past 10 games for a Mariners team that has its sights set on a deep postseason run. The Royals (12-19) are a different after a rough first month. Even after a recent four-game winning streak, Kansas City has lost 11 of its past 16 games, thanks to an eight-game losing streak. But the Royals still have Witt, who has a .986 OPS over his past 13 games and remains a game-changing talent in a variety of ways. The Royals will look to lefty Cole Ragans (1-4; 5.00 ERA) to keep Seattle at bay, while righty Bryan Woo (1-2; 3.86 ERA) will look to keep the visitors off the board.
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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.