Meet Netflix's star-studded MLB broadcast lineup for Yankees vs. Giants, from Barry Bonds to Jameis Winston

Meet Netflix's star-studded MLB broadcast lineup for Yankees vs. Giants, from Barry Bonds to Jameis Winston originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Netflix has been closing in on the sports world after being one of the go-to spots for movies and shows. After providing coverage of the NFL Christmas games and even the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson boxing bout, the platform will now host the first-ever MLB Opening Night.

After hosting coverage in Japan for the country's World Baseball Classic games this year, Netflix will now cover its first-ever live MLB game when the New York Yankees travel to play the San Francisco Giants on March 26. This will be a homecoming game for perennial MVP Aaron Judge, as he was born in Sacramento. Max Fried and Logan Webb are expected to take the mound for the two teams.

Along with hosting coverage, Netflix equipped itself with a star-studded roster to host coverage. While it was assumed they would add past MLB talents to display their analysis as the game is played, the night will also have multiple noteworthy personalities to make the game watched by a larger audience, outside of the MLB's religious fans who will tune in to the first action of the 2026 season.

Here is who Netflix will roll out to host Opening Night, including the likes of Barry Bonds and Jameis Winston.

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Who is calling MLB games for Netflix on Opening Night?

Netflix has equipped its first-ever Opening Night commentary staff with a star-studded roster. Past MLB talent will collide with one of the NFL's most upbeat personalities in Jameis Winston. Along with Winston, past MLB stars Barry Bonds, Albert Pujols, Anthony Rizzo, CC Sabathia, and Hunter Pence round out the coverage.

Along with these former athletes, Emmy award–winner Elle Duncan and the MLB Network’s Matt Vasgersian and Lauren Shehadi will also be present in San Francisco. 

Here is the current complete lineup for Netflix's MLB Opening Night show.

TalentRoleElle DuncanHostBarry BondsAnalystAlbert PujolsAnalystAnthony RizzoAnalystMatt VasgersianLead play-by-playCC SabathiaBooth analystHunter PenceBooth analystLauren ShehadiOn-field reporterJameis WinstonSpecial guestBert KreischerSpecial guest

Matt Vasgersian, play-by-play

Matt Vasgersian is set to lead play-by-play for Opening Night. Vasgersian has ample experience covering baseball as a studio host for both the MLB Network and Fox Sports. Along with this, he is the alternate play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Angels. Vasgersian is most notably recognized by fans through his home-run catch phrase of "Santa Maria!" 24 hours after this game, he will call the Mets-Pirates Opening Day game.

CC Sabathia, analyst

Joining Vasgersian in the booth for MLB Opening Night on March 25 is Yankees legend and Hall of Fame pitcher CC Sabathia. Sabathia will serve as a primary color analyst for Netflix’s debut baseball broadcast. Sabathia will have his no. 52 jersey retired by the Yankees this season on Sept. 26. Across 19 seasons with Cleveland, Milwaukee, and New York, Sabathia accumulated a 251-161 record, 3.74 ERA, and 3,093 strikeouts across 561 games.

Hunter Pence, analyst

Rounding out the three-man booth for Netflix’s Opening Night debut is two-time World Series champion Hunter Pence, who will join Matt Vasgersian and CC Sabathia as a color analyst. The former Giants outfielder returns to Oracle Park and may give insight into his experiences from his San Francisco days. Since retiring in 2020, Pence has appeared on MLB Network and NBC Sports Bay Area. His lifetime stats consist of a .279 average, 1,791 hits, 244 home runs, and 942 RBIs.

Lauren Shehadi, on-field reporter

Lauren Shehadi will join the Netflix broadcast as the primary on-field reporter at Oracle Park. She is a frequent on MLB Network’s MLB Central, along with TBS’s postseason coverage, as one of sports' premier field reporters. She has also appeared on the 2026 NCAA Tournament scene by conducting interviews with players and coaches, which she will replicate on Netflix's coverage.

Elle Duncan, studio host

Emmy Award-winning broadcaster Elle Duncan will lead the studio coverage for the 2026 MLB Opening Night. As the primary desk host for the pregame and postgame shows at Oracle Park, Duncan will anchor the star-studded analyst team that includes home run king Barry Bonds, three-time MVP Albert Pujols, and World Series champion Anthony Rizzo. Duncan spent nearly a decade at ESPN and is also slated to host Netflix’s coverage of the Home Run Derby in July and the Field of Dreams game in August.

Barry Bonds, studio analyst

MLB's all-time home run leader, Barry Bonds, will appear as a studio analyst for the Yankees-Giants game. He will be returning to the ballpark where he hit countless home runs, including no. 756. Fellow legends Albert Pujols and Anthony Rizzo will join him on the pregame and postgame desk. This high-profile role marks Bonds' most significant media opportunity since his retirement. Bonds is also expected to return for Netflix's coverage of the Home Run Derby and the Field of Dreams game. In his career, Bonds boasts the stats of a .298 average, 2,935 hits, 762 home runs, 1,996 RBIs, and a slugging average of .607.

Albert Pujols, studio analyst

Three-time MVP and two-time World Series champion Albert Pujols will serve as a lead desk analyst for Netflix’s MLB Opening Night. The former Cardinal, Angel, and Dodger is a member of the MLB's 3,000-hit club, and will be a great mind to pick for Netflix's coverage. Team Dominican Republic's 2026 World Baseball Classic manager will also be present on the coverage at the Home Run Derby and the Field of Dreams game. Pujols's stats include a .296 average, 3,384 hits, 703 home runs, and 2,218 RBIs.

Anthony Rizzo, studio analyst

2016 World Series winner and three-time All-Star Anthony Rizzo rounds out Netflix's studio analysis crew for Opening Night. Following his retirement from the MLB, Rizzo signed with NBC Sports to become a regular analyst for Sunday Night Baseball and postseason coverage throughout the 2026 season. Across 14 MLB seasons, Rizzo tallied a lifetime .261 average, 1,644 hits, 303 home runs, and 965 RBIs.

Jameis Winston, special guest

Current New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston will join the team as a high-profile special guest. Winston is no stranger to the diamond; he was a standout two-sport athlete at Florida State and a 15th-round draft pick of the Texas Rangers in 2012. The famed motivational speaker on NFL sidelines will look to bring his fan-favorite analysis to a new sports front.

Bert Kreischer, special guest

Rounding out Netflix's coverage of Opening Night is special guest Bert Kreischer. The comedian is most known for his five stand-up specials and the series "Free Bert." Kreischer’s inclusion in the Yankees-Giants broadcast creates a wildcard element into the evening’s coverage and possibly a shirtless inning with Vasgersian, Sabathia, and Pence in the booth. He will look to give the audience a light-hearted break during Yankees-Giants. 

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MLB Opening Night 2026 schedule

MatchupTimeVenueYankees vs. Giants8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PTOracle Park, San Francisco

MLB Opening Night will be streamed exclusively on Netflix. Pregame coverage from Oracle Park will begin at 7 p.m. ET to serve as the first-ever live MLB game streamed on the platform.

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