ESPN, ESPN2, FS1 and MLB Network will begin airing select games from the MLB The Show 20-powered competition featuring player reps from all 30 big-league ballclubs Thursday night, Major League Baseball announced Thursday afternoon.
The Players League, a joint venture between MLB, the MLB Players Association and Sony Interactive Entertainment, will make its television debut Thursday on ESPN2. Among potential matchups to air tonight are two with potential playoff implications: Blake Snell (Tampa Bay Rays) against Lucas GIolito (Chicago White Sox) and Bo Bichette (Toronto Blue Jays) taking on Trevor May (Minnesota Twins).
ESPN2 will air more matchups on Saturday and Wednesday, according to a news release from MLB. The MLB Network is also set to air Players League action at 8 p.m. Sunday, preceded by a one-hour MLB The Show: Recap program at 7 p.m.
The league is nearly two weeks into its regular season. The 29-game slate will wrap up by the end of April ahead of an eight-team postseason. The quarterfinal and semifinal will be played as best-of-three series, with the championship round a best-of-five format.