NBC Sports has mapped out a full slate of 15 Major League Baseball games for July 5, branding the day as Star‑Spangled Sunday. The centerpiece of the schedule is a nationally televised Sunday Night Baseball matchup that pits the San Diego Padres against the Los Angeles Dodgers, a game that will be streamed live on Peacock at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
A Holiday Pitcher’s Duel
The broadcast will originate from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, where the Dodgers enter the contest as the most dominant team in the National League and, by extension, all of baseball. Their flawless record and deep pitching rotation have made them the team to beat, while the Padres have carved out a reputation for late‑inning resilience, ranking among the league’s best in saves and stolen bases.
Adding to the spectacle, veteran analyst CC Sabathia will join host Ahmed Fareed for pre‑game coverage, offering insight into the matchup’s stakes. When the game gets underway, Jason Benetti will handle the play‑by‑play, supported by former stars Orel Hershiser and Jake Peavy in the commentary booth.
The Padres bring a potent mix of speed and power to the table. Manny Machado has been steady at the plate, while Fernando Tatis Jr. continues to lead the club in batting average. Though the Dodgers hold a comfortable lead in the NL West — over ten games ahead of San Diego — the Padres have already handed Los Angeles a defeat this season and have faced their rivals seven times in the past two weeks, underscoring the competitive balance.
With the holiday crowd expected to be electric, the game offers the Padres a realistic chance to pull off an upset on Independence Day. A win would not only boost morale but also tighten the narrative around a potential shift in the league’s power dynamics, making this Star‑Spangled Sunday a must‑watch event for baseball fans across the United States.