Baseball's stretch run in the second half of the season got underway on Friday with no shortage of drama, and there's no better time to jump in on wall-to-wall live streaming on MLB.TV.
MLB.TV, Major League Baseball's live streaming service, is free and available for all out-of-market games through Sunday's schedule. Viewers can simply create an MLB.TV account and enjoy the pitches, hits, catches and celebrations during the first weekend of the season's crucial second half. Viewers that took advantage of MLB.TV on Friday were treated to plenty of excitement.
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In his Dodgers debut, four-time All-Star Manny Machado reached base four times with two singles and a pair of walks as the Dodgers won a clash with the playoff-hopeful Brewers in Milwaukee. The Orioles sent shockwaves through baseball when they traded Machado, the face of their franchise, to Los Angeles for a package of five prospects on Wednesday.
Former Padres closer Brad Hand and fellow acquisition Adam Cimber made their Indians debuts Friday night in an 11-inning, back-and-forth affair against the Rangers following their Thursday trade to Cleveland. Hand allowed a homer to Joey Gallo, while Cimber yielded a single before getting an inning-ending double play in a game Cleveland would go on to win, 9-8.
There's more to watch other than intrigue surrounding the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline. The Mets are in the Bronx for another chapter of their Subway Series rivalry with the Yankees, and Mets star Yoenis Cespedes announced his return from a prolonged stint on the disabled list with a third-inning homer as part of a 2-for-4 performance in Friday's 7-5 win.
Meanwhile, the Cubs and Cardinals continue their four-game series this weekend in Chicago after a record-breaking performance from Matt Carpenter in the Cardinals' 18-5 Friday rout of their rivals. Elsewhere, the Nationals try to make up ground in the National League East in a home series against the Braves, and the reigning World Series-champion Astros saw Dallas Keucheltake a no-hit bid into the seventh inning against Michael Trout and the Angels in the series opener in Anaheim.
All live games streamed on any MLB.TV product and available via MLB.com At Bat are subject to local, regional or national blackouts. If a game is blacked out in an area, it is not available for live game viewing via MLB.TV. For MLB.TV subscribers within an area subject to blackout, applicable games will be available as archived games approximately 90 minutes following their conclusions.