A Sunday Afternoon Like No Other
NBC will break from its traditional Sunday Night Baseball slot on August 23, 2026, to air a special Sunday afternoon doubleheader that begins at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. The centerpiece of the broadcast is a matchup between the San Francisco Giants and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, a venue that has hosted countless historic moments.
The Giants enter the game near the bottom of the National League West, a position that has forced the club to treat each series as a chance to gather quality wins and perhaps influence the race for next season’s playoff spots. Meanwhile, the Red Sox sit in the American League East Wild Card hunt, making every victory critical as they jockey for a postseason berth.
Adding an emotional layer to the contest, Rafael Devers, who spent several seasons with Boston before signing with San Francisco, will step onto the field as an opponent of his former team. His return to Fenway has been a focal point of discussion among fans and analysts alike.
The telecast will feature a seasoned lineup of NBC Sports analysts, including veteran voice Jason Benetti alongside former Red Sox slugger Hunter Pence, longtime commentator Lou Merloni, and pregame host Ahmed Fareed. Former player Anthony Rizzo will also contribute commentary, promising a blend of insight and storytelling that mirrors the network’s flagship baseball coverage.
The game overlaps with a separate Peacock broadcast of the Arizona Diamondbacks versus the Cincinnati Reds, which is slated to start at 4 p.m. Eastern. While the two events will air on different platforms, they share the same afternoon window, underscoring a busy schedule of baseball action that fans can follow across multiple outlets.