MLB Opening Night on ESPN, in which the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the defending World Series Champion Chicago Cubs 4-3, was the highest-rated Opening Night telecast since 2010, based on metered market ratings from Nielsen. The ESPN telecast delivered a 2.3 metered market rating, up 10 percent from last year, which was a World Series rematch between the New York Mets and Kansas City Royals.

ESPN today announced that two-time World Series Champion David Ross is joining the company as a Major League Baseball analyst. In this multi-year deal, the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox Champion catcher will provide analysis for a variety of ESPN platforms, including its MLB studio coverage, SportsCenter and for select games.

ESPN Sunday Night Baseball presented by Taco Bell will return for its 28th season in 2017 as the exclusive, national Major League Baseball game of the week. The weekly, prime-time telecast will feature the sport’s top stars and best teams throughout the season, beginning with Opening Night– the World Series Champion Chicago Cubs visit their rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals, on Sunday, April 2, 2017 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

The 2017 Major League Baseball season will begin with seven season-opening games in two days across ESPN and ESPN2 between Sunday, April 2 and Monday, April 3. The season-opening slate will be highlighted by an Opening Night prime-time exclusive: the World Series Champion Chicago Cubs will visit Busch Stadium and their rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals, on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. Coverage will begin at 8:30 p.m. ET and will also be available on ESPN Radio (including streaming via ESPNRadio.com), ESPN Deportes and ESPN Deportes Radio.

ESPN today announced it has added several full national MLB Postseason Impact Game telecasts presented by Exxon and Mobil, including three division rivalry games, to its September schedule. The games are expected to directly impact the 2016 MLB Postseason race. Current MLB standings via ESPN.com.

ESPN announced today its game selection for the 2016 Sunday Night Baseball presented by Taco Bell season finale: the Chicago Cubs, owners of baseball’s best record, led by NL MVP candidate Kris Bryant, will host their rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals and Yadier Molina at 8 p.m. ET from historic Wrigley Field.

ESPN announced today its game selection for the Sept.11, 2016 edition of Sunday Night Baseball presented by Taco Bell: the Chicago Cubs, owners of baseball’s best record, led by NL MVP candidates Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant, will visit the Houston Astros and MLB batting average leader and AL MVP candidate Jose Altuve at 8 p.m. ET from Minute Maid Park.

ESPN announced today its game selection for the August 14 edition of Sunday Night Baseball presented by Taco Bell: the National League Central-leading Chicago Cubs and Anthony Rizzo will host their rivals and the second place St. Louis Cardinals and Yadier Molina at 8 p.m. ET from historic Wrigley Field.

The Seattle Mariners will return to ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball presented by Taco Bell for the first time since 2004 as they visit the National League Central-leading Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on July 31, at 8 p.m. ET. The Mariners – led by MLB All-Star Robinson Cano – will face a star-studded Cubs team, highlighted by their All-Star infield of Anthony Rizzo, Ben Zobrist, Addison Russell and Kris Bryant. The Mariners last appeared on Sunday Night Baseball, July 6, 2004 vs. the Chicago White Sox.