dpThe series opener between the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays begins a weekend of fans needing to alter their regular viewing habits.
Friday’s 7:10 p.m. game at Daikin Park is a streaming exclusive on Apple TV and will not air on Space City Home Network, which carries the bulk of Astros games.
An Apple TV subscription is required to watch. A subscription runs $12.99 a month plus tax, but a free seven-day trial is offered to qualified new and returning subscribers.
Alex Faust (play-by-play), Ryan Spilborghs (analyst) and Tricia Whitaker (field reporter) will call Friday’s game. It’s the third Astros game this season on the streamer and the first of two July games on Apple TV. The July 31 home game against the Texas Rangers also will be exclusive to the streamer.
Sunday’s 2:30 p.m. series finale also will be a streaming exclusive on Peacock as part of “Star-Spangled Sunday,” which will have every game on NBC or Peacock in the first instance of a single national rightsholder airing all 15 MLB games on a single day.
Saturday’s 6:10 p.m. game is the only one in the Astros-Rays series that will air on SCHN.
