ESPN’s multiplatform coverage of Major League Baseball’s Opening Week will begin with a full slate of MLB-focused programming on Wednesday, April 4, leading into ESPN’s exclusive national telecast of Opening Night – defending Champion Cardinals at new-look Marlins – at 7 p.m. ET. In total, ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to televise five games in three days Opening Week. Programming on April 4th will include:
Baseball Tonight: Baseball Tonight will be live in Miami at 6 p.m. leading into MLB Opening Night. The set will be located just outside the new Marlins Park to capture fan atmosphere surrounding the grand opening of the new stadium. Host Karl Ravech will be joined by analysts John Kruk and recently elected Hall of Famer Barry Larkin. The Baseball Tonight crew will then travel to Anaheim for Albert Pujols’ debut with the Los Angeles Angels as they host the Kansas City Royals on Friday, April 6, at 10 p.m. on ESPN2.
Mike and Mike in the Morning at the MLB Fan Cave: Mike & Mike will emanate from the MLB Fan Cave in New York on Wednesday, April 4, and Thursday, April 5, from 6-10 a.m. Guests will be announced in the coming days. Mike & Mike is available nationally on ESPN Radio and via simulcast on ESPN2.
Additional Programming Highlights: ESPN programming will feature daylong MLB season-opening discussion, debate and content on April 4, including live SportsCenter updates from Marlins Park; First Take (10 a.m./ESPN2); Numbers Never Lie (4 p.m./ESPN2); and SportsNation (5 p.m./ESPN2). ESPN will also televise a special edition of Dan Le Batard is Highly Questionable on location at Marlins Park (4:30 p.m./ESPN2). In addition, ESPN will be airing Game 162 — an MLB-produced special on the final day of 2011’s regular season – on Monday, April 2, at 8 p.m. and again on April 4, at 2 p.m. on ESPN2.
New Sunday Night Baseball Team to Call Four Games in Five Days: ESPN’s new Sunday Night Baseball team – Dan Shulman, Orel Hershiser, Terry Francona and Buster Olney — will call four games in five days to open the season, beginning with Cardinals/Marlins on Opening Night. ESPN’s season-opening coverage continues:
Thursday, April 5
Mike & Mike at the MLB Fan Cave (6-10 a.m.);
First Take to feature debate and discussion on a variety of topics relating to MLB Opening Week (10 a.m. – noon);
Two editions of Baseball Tonight – 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. – to provide news, highlights and analysis on top season-opening storylines;
Red Sox at Tigers at 1 p.m.; Marlins at Reds at 4 p.m. (ESPN2).
Friday, April 6
The Herd with Colin Cowherd onsite at Angels Stadium from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. The Herd is available on ESPN Radio and via simulcast on ESPNEWS;
Baseball Tonight onsite at Angels Stadium (6 p.m.);
Giants at Diamondbacks at 7 p.m.; Royals at Angels at 10 p.m. (ESPN2).