We always have to be careful about focusing on potential pitching match-ups for the week ahead as plans can change, either deliberately on behalf of a manager rearranging a rotation or rain leading to a game being postponed.
However, looking at the pre-midnight UK time MLB games this working week there is one contest that can’t be ignored.
The Dodgers and Giants are playing a three-game series at AT&T Park and the finale on Thursday currently is set to feature Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner. ESPN will be broadcasting the game in the UK, although they will be joining it after the completion of a 17.35 start between the Mariners and Orioles so hopefully the ‘pace of play’ changes will help keep that one within 3 hours.
This working week also offers two opportunities to catch the Houston Astros during the British evening. In recent seasons that comment would not have generated much excitement, but things are changing in Houston and they entered Sunday’s games with the best record in the American League. If you haven’t seen much of them so far this season, here’s your chance to learn a bit more about this emerging young team.
All times are in BST.
Monday 18 May
18:07. LA Angels at Toronto (Wilson – Sanchez) *MLB.com Free Game, ESPN
Tuesday 19 May
No early games
Wednesday 20 May
19:10. Oakland at Houston (Hahn – Keuchel) *ESPN
Thursday 21 May
17:10. Arizona at Miami (Bradley – Latos)
17.35. Seattle at Baltimore (Happ – Chen) *ESPN
18.08. Houston at Detroit (Feldman – Price)
18.10. St. Louis at NY Mets (Lyons – deGrom) *MLB.com Free Game
20.10. Philadelphia at Colorado (Williams – De La Rosa)
20.45. LA Dodgers at San Francisco (Kershaw – Bumgarner) *ESPN
Friday 22 May
No early games
All of these games are available to watch or listen to live via an MLB.TV subscription. TV coverage of MLB comes courtesy of the BT Sport and ESPN channels and these are highlighted above, as are any games that are available to view online for free via MLB.com. The above list of games just shows those starting before midnight UK time. The full schedule of MLB games can be found on MLB.com.
