Pregame Spread to debut Monday, April 11, at 5 p.m. on MLB Network
April 6, 2022 – With Opening Day upon us, MLB Network announced that it will premiere Pregame Spread, a new regular-season daily program, on Monday, April 11, at 5 p.m. ET. Host Matt Vasgersian will combine his irreverent broadcasting style and longstanding love of the game to deliver an action-packed show featuring a variety of entertaining and insightful baseball content. Commentary on what is and isn’t trending around the diamond, betting insights leading into the night ahead, and interviews with today’s stars and outspoken personalities from the past will be featured throughout the hour-long program.
“Baseball fans are more involved and more educated than ever these days,” said Vasgersian. “And the same way players navigate their pregame food spread options, we’re hoping to provide a variety of information and entertainment to get fans ready for the night.”
Sports betting host and analyst Ariel Epstein (@ArielEpstein) will regularly join Pregame Spread as an MLB Network senior betting analyst, plus segments featured on the show will include:
- Set the Table – Vasgersian delivers an opening monologue on the latest happenings around baseball.
- Hot and Cold Spreads – The latest betting trends will be examined to prepare fans for the night.
- Back It or Attack It – Debate and discussion on predictions shared by former players and baseball celebrities.
- Hook’s Highlights – A look at the previous day’s highlights through the lens of betting implications.
Pregame Spread joins Off Base as MLB Network’s first new daily studio programs since MLB Central launched in 2015. MLB Network’s daily studio programming lineup for 2022 includes MLB Central (9 a.m. ET), High Heat (1 p.m.), MLB Now (2 p.m.), Off Base (3 p.m.), Intentional Talk (4 p.m.), Pregame Spread (5 p.m.) MLB Tonight (6 p.m.) and Quick Pitch (1 a.m.).
Vasgersian, who has been in baseball for more than 30 years, has contributed across MLB Network’s programming since its launch in 2009, including as a studio host and play-by-play caller. In 2021, Vasgersian was named as a regular television play-by-play voice for the Los Angeles Angels, a role he will again continue this season. In MLB Network’s early years, Vasgersian hosted Hot Stove and the multiple Emmy Award-winning MLB Tonight on a regular basis, with Hot Stove remaining part of Vasgersian’s responsibilities to this day. In 2015, Vasgersian helped launch MLB Central_, MLB Network’s first-ever regular-season morning program, alongside co-hosts Mark DeRosa and Lauren Shehadi, a role he enjoyed for three seasons. Vasgersian has called some of MLB Network’s highest-profile games over the years, including MLB Network’s first-ever Postseason telecast in 2012. Several _MLB Network Showcase telecasts and World Baseball Classic games in 2009, 2013 and 2017 have also been called by Vasgersian. In 2012, Vasgersian hosted Baseball IQ_, MLB Network’s first-ever trivia game show. In addition to MLB Network, Vasgersian was the play-by-play voice for ESPN’s _Sunday Night Baseball franchise for the last four seasons. Play-by-play roles with FOX Sports, NBC Sports, the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers are all part of Vasgersian’s decorated resume