This year, TBS has the National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the St. Louis Cardinals. And these two teams have some postseason history having played each other in the 1982 World Series when the Brewers were in the American League. Cardinals won that series in 7 games and this year, they’ll play in the National League Championship Series.
Brian Anderson, subbing for Ernie Johnson, Jr., will have the play-by-play and he’ll be joined by his on-air partners from the Yankees-Tigers American League Division Series, Ron Darling and John Smoltz. Craig Sager and his loud suits will be on the field as the reporter.
For the studio, host Matt Winer will man the MLB on Deck/Inside MLB pre and postgame shows along with analysts Dennis Eckersley, Cal Ripken, Jr., and David Wells. They’ll be in the TBS studios in Atlanta for Games 1 and 2, then will be on-site in St. Louis and if necessary, Milwaukee for the duration of the NLCS. And Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated will report from the American League Championship Series for TBS.
Here’s the Turner Sports press release outlining the TBS coverage plans.
TBS’ Exclusive Coverage of MLB’s National League Championship Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers Leads off on Sunday, October 9 at 4 p.m. (ET)
TBS announced today the telecast schedule for its exclusive coverage of Major League Baseball’s National League Championship Series (NLCS). The action gets underway on Sunday, Oct. 9, with the St. Louis Cardinals, the NL Wild Card winner, taking on the NL Central Champion Milwaukee Brewers, at 4 p.m. ET in Game #1. Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Ron Darling and John Smoltz (analysts) and Craig Sager (reporter) will call the action throughout the NLCS.
NLCS coverage on TBS begins with its pre-game show, TBS MLB On Deck at 3:30 p.m. (ET) featuring Matt Winer (host), Dennis Eckersley, Cal Ripken, and David Wells (analysts). TBS will conclude the day’s action with the post-game show Inside MLB also featuring Winer, Eckersley, Ripken and Wells. Beginning with Game #3 of the NLCS, the pre- and post-game show will hit the road and be on-site at Busch Stadium in St. Louis and Miller Park in Milwaukee. Sports Illustrated/SI.com senior baseball writer Tom Verducci will provide reports from the American League Championship Series (ALCS). See schedule below for full coverage details.
The network debuted two new technology features this year to bring fans unique insights into the Postseason and will bring both back for the NLCS including Bloomberg Stats which utilizes Bloomberg Sport’s vast resources as they integrate comprehensive statistical information into each telecast. The network will continue to use Liberovision, a 3D interactive telestrator that gives fans a new perspective of instant replays as TBS’ analysts breaking down select key moments throughout the Postseason. Pitch Trax also returns and will illustrates pitch location throughout each game.
Postseason.TV will continue to complement TBS’ coverage with up to 10 different camera angles available throughout each NLCS game, which viewers can navigate for different vantage points from their computers or handheld devices. Subscribers can watch one camera angle or view up to four different cameras simultaneously through a multi-screen option. Fans also will be granted access to live batting practice coverage from multiple camera angles, in-progress box scores, video highlights and streaming Tweets from MLB, TBS and fans.
Turner Sports will also get fans involved through various social media platforms, including:
- Twitter: @MLB_TBS and @TurnerSportsPR will provide game alerts, programming information and behind-the-scenes photos throughout the Postseason. Also, TBS MLB broadcasters will periodically answer questions from fans via Twitter Chats. Fans can use #Postseason to join the conversation throughout the NLCS and ALCS.
- Facebook: Fans can also check out the MLB on TBS Facebook page (facebook.com) to find the latest schedule information, behind-the-scenes photos and other special features.
NLCS ON TBS SCHEDULE DAY/DATE
TIME (ET)EVENT Sun., October 9 3:30 p.m. TBS MLB On Deck
Matt Winer (host), Dennis Eckersley (analyst), Cal Ripken (analyst) and David Wells (analyst)4 p.m. St. Louis Cardinals @ Milwaukee Brewers, Game #1
Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Ron Darling (analyst), John Smoltz (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)Post-game Inside MLB
Winer (host), Eckersley (analyst), Ripken (analyst) and Wells (analyst)Mon., October 10 7:30 p.m. TBS MLB On Deck
Winer (host), Eckersley (analyst), Ripken (analyst) and Wells (analyst)8 p.m. St. Louis Cardinals @ Milwaukee Brewers, Game #2
Announcers: Anderson (play-by-play), Darling (analyst), Smoltz (analyst) and Sager (reporter)Post-game Inside MLB
Winer (host), Eckersley (analyst), Ripken (analyst) and Wells (analyst)Wed., October 12> 7:30 p.m. TBS MLB On Deck
Winer (host), Eckersley (analyst), Ripken (analyst) and Wells (analyst)8 p.m. Milwaukee Brewers @ St. Louis Cardinals, Game #3
Announcers: Anderson (play-by-play), Darling (analyst), Smoltz (analyst) and Sager (reporter)Post-game Inside MLB
Winer (host), Eckersley (analyst), Ripken (analyst) and Wells (analyst)Thu., October 13 7:30 p.m. TBS MLB On Deck
Winer (host), Eckersley (analyst), Ripken (analyst) and Wells (analyst)8 p.m. Milwaukee Brewers @ St. Louis Cardinals, Game #4
Announcers: Anderson (play-by-play), Darling (analyst), Smoltz (analyst) and Sager (reporter)Post-game Inside MLB
Winer (host), Eckersley (analyst), Ripken (analyst) and Wells (analyst)Fri., October 14 7:30 p.m. TBS MLB On Deck
Winer (host), Eckersley (analyst), Ripken (analyst) and Wells (analyst)8 p.m. Milwaukee Brewers @ St. Louis Cardinals, Game #5*
Announcers: Anderson (play-by-play), Darling (analyst), Smoltz (analyst) and Sager (reporter)Post-game Inside MLB
Winer (host), Eckersley (analyst), Ripken (analyst) and Wells (analyst)Sun., October 16 3:30 p.m.** TBS MLB On Deck
Winer (host), Eckersley (analyst), Ripken (analyst) and Wells (analyst)4 p.m.** St. Louis Cardinals @ Milwaukee Brewers, Game #6*
Announcers: Anderson (play-by-play), Darling (analyst), Smoltz (analyst) and Sager (reporter)Post-game Inside MLB
Winer (host), Eckersley (analyst), Ripken (analyst) and Wells (analyst)**If ALCS completed: 7:30 p.m. “MLB on Deck” and 8 p.m. game Mon., October 17 7:30 p.m. TBS MLB On Deck
Winer (host), Eckersley (analyst), Ripken (analyst) and Wells (analyst)8 p.m. St. Louis Cardinals @ Milwaukee Brewers, Game #7*
Announcers: Anderson (play-by-play), Darling (analyst), Smoltz (analyst) and Sager (reporter)Post-game Inside MLB
Winer (host), Eckersley (analyst), Ripken (analyst) and Wells (analyst)* If Necessary
That’s really it for now.
