Spring training is basically the only time of year when it’s perfectly acceptable to watch baseball at 1:00 PM on a Tuesday while pretending to work. If you're a Baltimore fan, you've probably spent years frustrated by the lack of televised Grapefruit League games. Honestly, it used to be a coin flip whether a random game against the Pirates would actually be on MASN or if you’d be stuck refreshing a box score like it’s 2005.
But 2026 is actually looking a lot different.
The Orioles recently dropped their broadcast schedule, and the big headline is that MASN is airing 20 spring training games this year. That is a record. For context, they’ve never done that many before. It’s a huge jump, and it’s finally giving fans a real look at the roster battles in Sarasota without having to hunt for a sketchy pirated stream or wait for the evening highlights.
Breaking Down the Orioles Spring Training TV Schedule
The action starts on Friday, February 20, with a home game against the Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium. That one is on MASN. If you can’t get to a TV, WBAL Radio is also picking it up.
Most of these games are 1:05 PM starts, which is standard "afternoon at the ballpark" timing. However, the schedule gets interesting toward the end of March. On March 15 and 16, they’re playing night games (6:05 PM) against the Yankees and Red Sox, and yes, those are both televised.
Here is the meat of the schedule you need to know:
The first full week of televised ball kicks off with the Yankees (Feb 20) and Pirates (Feb 21). After a brief TV break, they’re back on the air for the Rays on Feb 25 and Tigers on Feb 26.
March is where the heavy lifting happens. You’re getting the Braves on Feb 28, the Red Sox on March 1, and then a steady stream of MASN coverage including matchups with the Astros (March 4), Cardinals (March 6), and Blue Jays (March 8).
One really cool addition this year is the Spring Breakout game on Friday, March 20. This is the exhibition featuring the top prospects—the guys you’ve been reading about in Baseball America but haven't seen in person yet. They’ll be facing the Red Sox prospects at 6:05 PM on MASN.
The whole thing wraps up with a bit of a homecoming. On Sunday, March 22, the Orioles play the Nationals at Camden Yards. It’s an exhibition game, but seeing the team back in Baltimore for a 1:35 PM start is the ultimate sign that winter is officially dead.
Where to Watch and Who is Calling the Games
MASN remains the primary home, but the way you access it has changed a bit. If you’re in the local market, you’ve got MASN and the MASN+ streaming app. If you’re out of market, you’re looking at MLB.TV, though blackout rules for spring training can sometimes be as confusing as the infield fly rule.
The booth is going to sound familiar but with a new twist. Kevin Brown is back as the primary TV voice, which is great because his energy is exactly what you want for a mid-March blowout. Ben McDonald and the legendary Jim Palmer are handling the analysis.
The big news on the radio side is the addition of Josh Lewin. If that name rings a bell, it’s because he was actually with the Orioles back in the mid-90s. He’s a pro’s pro and joins Brett Hollander and Ben Wagner on the Orioles Radio Network. Between WBAL NewsRadio 1090 and 98 Rock, you’re covered for 12 of the spring games if you're stuck in traffic on I-95.
Why This Year's Broadcasts Actually Matter
In some years, spring training is just about veterans getting their timing right. This year feels different.
The roster is a puzzle. We know the stars, but the depth is where the real questions are. Everyone is watching to see how Samuel Basallo handles high-level pitching. Then there’s the rotation. With Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, and Shane Baz in the mix, plus the question marks around Zach Eflin’s recovery from back surgery, every inning televised from Sarasota is a data point.
Watching these games on TV allows you to see the stuff that doesn't show up in the box score. How does the ball look coming off Coby Mayo's bat? Does Jackson Holliday look more comfortable at the plate than he did during his first stint? You can’t tell that from a radio call.
The MASN and Nationals Factor
You might be wondering why there’s suddenly a record number of games on TV. A lot of it stems from the settlement of the long-standing MASN dispute between the Orioles and the Washington Nationals.
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For years, the two teams basically had to have the same number of televised spring games. It was a weird, "if I can't have it, you can't either" situation. Now that the legal dust has settled, the Orioles are free to broadcast as much as they want. Meanwhile, the Nationals are moving toward broadcasting their games directly through MLB, leaving MASN as a dedicated home for the O's.
How to Handle the Non-Televised Days
Not every game is on TV. On days like February 22 (at Detroit) or March 7 (vs Twins), you’re going to have to rely on the radio.
If a game isn't on MASN, check the opponent's schedule. Often, the opposing team's regional sports network (like NESN for the Red Sox or YES for the Yankees) will produce the game. If you have MLB.TV, you can usually watch the "away" feed even if MASN isn't producing the game themselves.
Pro tip: Use the MLB At Bat app. It’s usually the most accurate place to see which specific feed is available about an hour before first pitch.
Getting Ready for Opening Day
By the time the Orioles host the Nationals at Camden Yards on March 22, the 26-man roster will be mostly set. That final exhibition game is basically a dress rehearsal.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, mark your calendars for those mid-March MASN broadcasts. That's when the starters begin pitching five or six innings, and the lineups start looking like what we’ll see on Opening Day.
Keep an eye on the "Spring Breakout" rosters too. Seeing the next wave of talent on March 20 is probably the best value you'll get out of your TV subscription all month.
Actionable Steps for Fans:
- Download the MASN+ app now and make sure your login credentials still work before the first game on February 20.
- Sync your calendar with the 20-game schedule, paying special attention to the two 6:05 PM night games on March 15 and 16.
- Check MLB.TV settings if you live outside the Mid-Atlantic region to ensure you can access the Orioles' feeds without regional restrictions during the preseason.
- Follow the radio schedule on WBAL for the 12 games that won't be on TV but are still being called live by the new-look broadcast team.