MLB On TV This Weekend

We have your group of games on national TV this weekend so let’s get to them.

Fox has regional coverage of three games. This weekend, Joe Buck has the weekend off, so this makes four of the first six games that he has worked. Buck took April 17 off and he’s also taking this weekend off. We’ll continue to keep track. Fox taps the local ranks and brings in Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia’s Tom McCarthy to call the Phillies-Milwaukee game. Here’s your regional splits plus previews from the Fox Sports staff.

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

MLB on FOX: Phillies/Brewers Square-Off in Milwaukee; Astros Take on an Ace in San Fran; Evan Longoria and the Rays Host the Mariners

NL CHAMPS TRAVEL TO THE MIDWEST – Week six of the FOX Saturday baseball game of the week leads off on Saturday, May 15 at 4:00 PM ET with three enticing matchups. Following some strong play in the last week, Ryan Howard and the Phillies are on the road and looking to strengthen their position in the NL East when they face the Brewers. Out west, Giants ace Tim Lincecum tries to stop Carlos Lee and the Astros in the Bay Area. Also, the Rays put MLB’s best record on the line as they host Ichiro and the Mariners. This week, the pregame show originates live from AT&T Park in San Francisco, CA with host Chris Rose. Once game action begins, Rose joins analyst Eric Karros to handle play-by-play duties.

For instant updates throughout the week and during games from the entire MLB on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MLBONFOX.  Fans can gain more access to exclusive FOX Sports content by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.myspace.com/foxsports.

KARROS: ZITO FINALLY DIRECTS ALL HIS FOCUS ON BASEBALL – One of the hottest topics in baseball is Giants pitcher Barry Zito’s tremendous start and if he’s finally living up to his $124 million contract. Eric Karros, who will call the Astros at Giants game with Chris Rose on Saturday, weighs in on what changed Zito. “There isn’t anybody who wanted to go out there and show that he deserved that contract this season more than Zito. There is no question that he likes to do a lot of different things but this year he finally directed the focus in his life towards baseball to have the best season he could possibly have and so far it’s worked. For the past two years most people have written him off and it would have been very easy for him to accept that but give him credit. He has definitely made baseball his priority and he’s seeing results.”

  

Philadelphia Phillies at Milwaukee Brewers, Tom McCarthy, Mark Grace & Ken Rosenthal, 57% of USA

Miller Park – Milwaukee, WI           

MARKETS INCLUDE:  Atlanta, Baltimore, Birmingham, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Detroit, Greensboro, Greenville, Hartford, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Knoxville, Louisville, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, Norfolk, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Richmond, St. Louis, Washington

Probable Pitchers: Cole Hamels, LHP (3-2, 4.53 ERA) vs. Chris Narveson, LHP (3-0, 5.96 ERA)

Houston Astros at San Francisco Giants, Chris Rose & Eric Karros, 25% of USA

AT&T Park – San Francisco, CA

MARKETS INCLUDE:  Albuquerque, Austin, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Tulsa

Probable Pitchers: Roy Oswalt, RHP (2-4, 2.48 ERA) vs. Tim Lincecum, RHP (4-0, 1.70 ERA)

Seattle Mariners at Tampa Bay Rays, Kenny Albert & Tim McCarver, 17% of USA

Tropicana Field – St. Petersburg, FL

MARKETS INCLUDE:  Boston, Dallas, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Portland, Providence, Seattle, Tampa, West Palm Beach

Probable Pitchers: James Shields, RHP (4-0, 3.15 ERA) vs. Joe Blanton, RHP (0-1, 5.40 ERA)

MLB Network will have its usual Saturday Night Baseball game, but unlike previous weeks where it takes the home feed, the network will have its own crew for the Civil Rights Game between St. Louis and Cincinnati. It will be seen in the Cincinnati market, but blacked out in St. Louis.

May 15 – 7:00 p.m., St. Louis at Cincinnati, Civil Rights Game – Matt Vasgersian, Barry Larkin & Harold Reynolds

We’ll have Sunday’s games after the jump.

On Sunday, TBS will have the New York Yankees hosting the Minnesota Twins and again, Brian Anderson, TV voice of the Milwaukee Brewers will be on the call for the former Superstation.

“Sunday MLB on TBS” Heads to the Big Apple for the Minnesota Twins @ New York Yankees

“Sunday MLB on TBS” continues on May 16 with an American League match-up featuring Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees hosting Joe Mauer and the Minnesota Twins at 1 p.m. (ET).  Sergio Mitre is scheduled to start for the Yankees against the Twins probable starter Nick Blackburn. Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Buck Martinez (analyst) and David Wells (analyst) to call the action from the TBS broadcast booth.

“Sunday MLB on TBS” includes match-ups on TBS every Sunday afternoon throughout the regular season. The network will also exclusively televise the MLB All-Star Selection Show on Sunday, July 4. Additionally, beginning in October TBS will once again provide exclusive coverage of the Division Series and the American League Championship Series (ALCS). 

TBS has broadcast MLB coverage for more than 30 years serving as the exclusive home of the MLB Division Series (DS) and one League Championship Series (LCS) since 2007 and home of Atlanta Braves coverage from 1977 to 2007. 

SUNDAY MLB ON TBS SCHEDULE:

Sun., May 16

1 p.m.                      Minnesota Twins @ New York Yankees

Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Buck Martinez (analyst) and David Wells (analyst)

SUNDAY MLB ON TBS UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

Sun., May 23

1:30 p.m.                 Boston Red Sox @ Philadelphia Phillies

Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play) and Ron Darling (analyst)

Sun., May 30

2:15 p.m.                 St. Louis Cardinals @ Chicago Cubs

Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play) and Buck Martinez (analyst)

On Sunday night, ESPN will have the Philadelphia-Milwaukee game and here’s what else is on tap for the network into next week.

Sunday Night Baseball (May 16)

Philadelphia Phillies at Milwaukee Brewers, 8 p.m.

Commentators: Jon Miller, Joe Morgan and Orel Hershiser

ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Radio, ESPN3.com, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Mobile TV

Monday Night Baseball (May 17)

Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees, 7 p.m.

Commentators: Dan Shulman, Aaron Boone and Nomar Garciaparra

ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV

Wednesday Night Baseball (May 19

Tampa Bay at New York Yankees, 7 p.m.

Commentators: Chris Berman and Rick Sutcliffe

ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV

That’s it for your baseball on TV this weekend.