Major League Baseball’s Sunday Leadoff has officially rounded the bases and headed home to NBC Sports for the 2026 season. After a two-year stint as a free broadcast on The Roku Channel, the league’s exclusive Sunday morning lineup is back with its original broadcaster. But this shift means yet another changeup in how you’ll catch early-afternoon games on TV.
Unlike its run on Roku, you can no longer stream these matchups for free. Instead, you’ll need a Peacock Premium subscription or a traditional TV package that carries the newly relaunched NBCSN. It’s also crucial to remember that because these are exclusive national television broadcasts, they’re blacked out on MLB.TV and MLB EXTRA INNINGS.
The 2026 MLB Sunday Leadoff slate features 18 games. In this guide, I list the complete schedule so you can see if your favorite team is playing in the early Sunday timeslot and plan your TV setup.
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What channel is MLB Sunday Leadoff on?
You can watch every MLB Sunday Leadoff matchup on Peacock this season as long as you have a premium subscription. Most games will also appear on traditional TV via NBCSN, with one game in 2026 airing on the main NBC broadcast network.
If you prefer Spanish-language coverage, it’s likely some MLB Sunday Leadoff games will air en Español on UNIVERSO and Telemundo.
2026 MLB Sunday Leadoff TV schedule
This season’s MLB Sunday Leadoff games begin on May 3 and run through the end of August. The 18-game slate features some incredible divisional rivalries and exciting interleague play, highlighted by a star-studded Fourth of July weekend clash between the Mets and Braves.
I’ve listed the complete broadcast schedule below so you can mark your calendar for when your favorite club is taking the field.
MLB content on Peacock
Apart from live MLB Sunday Leadoff games, NBCUniversal’s new massive media rights deal brings a ton of extra baseball content to Peacock—including Sunday Night Baseball.
Immediately following each Leadoff broadcast, Peacock streams a live Sunday afternoon whip-around show with live look-ins at games across the league. Additionally, the service will stream one out-of-market game every day of the regular season. It’s also the exclusive home for tons of MLB documentaries, short-form highlights, and classic game replays.
MLB fans can find other sports news and game recaps on the NBC Sports Peacock channel. The always-on channel offers daily coverage, including sports talk shows like “The Dan Patrick Show” and “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz” that frequently cover baseball.
Other ways to stream MLB games
MLB’s expansive broadcast agreements are a double-edged sword for baseball fans. With many viewing options, watching live games with even the most basic TV setup is easy. But you’ll need several TV subscriptions to access every regular-season matchup.
I often recommend DIRECTV for the most MLB access. It offers every core national MLB channel and a wide selection of regional sports networks (RSNs) for in-market broadcasts. If you support an out-of-market team, you can get a separate MLB.TV subscription.
To round out your national coverage in 2026, you’ll need Apple TV for Friday Night Baseball, Netflix for its new exclusive game packages, and Peacock for Sunday action. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the options, click the button below to view our comprehensive guide to watching America’s pastime on TV.
How to watch MLB Sunday Leadoff FAQ
Will Roku have MLB games in 2026?
No, The Roku Channel will not stream any live MLB games this season. Following the 2025 season, Major League Baseball signed a new three-year media rights deal, moving Sunday Leadoff games back to NBC and Peacock.
Are MLB games free on Peacock?
No, MLB Sunday Leadoff games are not free. Because Peacock no longer offers a free subscription tier, you'll need to sign up for a Peacock Premium plan to stream the platform's live games.
Do I need Peacock if I have MLB.TV?
Yes. MLB Sunday Leadoff games are nationally exclusive broadcasts, which means they are subject to standard blackout restrictions and will not be available live on MLB.TV or MLB EXTRA INNINGS. You'll need Peacock or NBCSN to watch them live.
Can I watch MLB Sunday Leadoff replays on Peacock?
Yes, you can watch full-game replays of MLB Sunday Leadoff matchups on Peacock. Game archives are typically available on the platform shortly after the live broadcast ends, allowing you to catch up if you miss the first pitch.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com Sports Editor, Taylor Kujawa, has covered and streamed MLB Sunday Leadoff since it debuted in 2022. Having followed the Sunday morning matchups from Peacock to The Roku Channel and back again, he understands exactly what fans need to navigate these major broadcasting shifts. Ahead of this season, Taylor evaluated Peacock’s live game count, on-demand library, and overall ease of use against competing viewing options.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
