MLB Network Announces Live Game Schedule Through June

MLB Network has sent us a release announcing its Thursday and Saturday Night Baseball through June. This includes a Yankees-Red Sox matchup and the annual Civil Rights Game.

MLB NETWORK ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE OF LIVE GAMES THROUGH JUNE

Games to air on “Thursday Night Baseball” and “Saturday Night Baseball”

Saturday coverage to include Gillette Civil Rights Game, with Chicago White Sox at Cincinnati Reds on June 20

Secaucus, N.J., May 19, 2009 – MLB Network today announced its schedule of live Thursday and Saturday night games from May 28 through June 2009, featuring 17 MLB clubs in ten live regular season games. MLB Network will carry at least 50 live regular season games in its first year.

Next week’s Thursday night game will air on May 28 at 8:00 p.m. ET, with the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Chicago Cubs and MLB Network’s Bob Costas and Harold Reynolds calling the game. Broadcast teams for Thursday Night Baseball on MLB Network in June will include play by play by Matt Vasgersian and Victor Rojas, with analysis by Mitch Williams, Joe Magrane and Dan Plesac. Other highlights of the June game schedule include division rivals New York Yankees at the Boston Red Sox (June 11), with Bob Costas and Jim Kaat in the broadcast booth, and a re-match of last year’s World Series with the Philadelphia Phillies at the Tampa Bay Rays (June 25). The Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals will also be featured.

“It’s our goal to showcase every team, whether with MLB Tonight, Thursday Night Baseball or Saturday Night Baseball,” said Tony Petitti, President and Chief Executive Officer of MLB Network. “We’re excited to continue to bring live, national coverage from around the league to our fans twice every week, with on-air talent match-ups that bring a different perspective to each Thursday night game.”

The Saturday night game on May 30 at 9:00 p.m. ET will feature the St. Louis Cardinals at the San Francisco Giants. Saturday Night Baseball will also include national appearances for the Baltimore Orioles, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Angels, as well as the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds during the Gillette Civil Rights Game on June 20.

Saturday Night Baseball will primarily be simulcasts of local broadcasts, including local announcers. On Saturdays, MLB Tonight will provide in-game updates on developments throughout MLB as well as news, analysis and highlights following the game telecast. MLB Network will announce future Saturday night games coinciding with its selection windows.

MLB Network’s complete broadcast schedule from May 28 through June appears below.

MLB NETWORK LIVE GAME SCHEDULE THROUGH JUNE 2009 (all times Eastern):

May 28 – 8:00 p.m. Dodgers @ Cubs – Bob Costas & Harold Reynolds

May 30 – 9:00 p.m. Cardinals @ Giants

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une 4 – 7:00 p.m. Cubs @ Braves – Matt Vasgersian & Joe Magrane

June 6 – 9:00 p.m. Orioles @ Athletics

June 11 – 7:00 p.m. Yankees @ Red Sox – Bob Costas & Jim Kaat

June 13 – 9:00 p.m. Padres @ Angels

June 18 – 8:00 p.m. Tigers @ Cardinals – Victor Rojas & Joe Magrane

June 20 – 7:00 p.m. Gillette Civil Rights Game: White Sox @ Reds

June 25 – 7:00 p.m. Phillies @ Rays – Matt Vasgersian, Joe Magrane & Mitch Williams

June 27 – 7:00 p.m. Yankees @ Mets

Games will be blacked out in each team’s home television territory, with the exception of the Gillette Civil Rights Game, which will be available on MLB Network in Cincinnati. Viewers in areas subject to blackouts will be provided with an alternate game telecast or other programming. MLB Network will continue to announce future Thursday Night Baseball and Saturday night games coinciding with its selection windows.

MLB Tonight, the signature program of MLB Network during the regular season, airs live beginning at 6:00 p.m. ET until the final MLB game of the night ends each Monday through Friday, featuring live look-ins of games in progress, updates, highlights, reporting and analysis. On Saturday nights, the show provides in-game updates and then airs after the game’s conclusion, while on Thursday nights, the show leads in to Thursday Night Baseball, providing viewers with highlights and analysis after the game as well as live studio updates during the game broadcast.

Bob Costas does two more games bringing his overall total to four games thus far. At this pace, he’ll do about eight games this season. I’m keeping an eye on this. I wonder who will call more regular season games for their respective networks, Bob Costas for MLB Network or Joe Buck for Fox.