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MLB

Yankees–Red Sox draws 7.3 million viewers for Wild Card opener

The September 29 game on NBC and Peacock peaked at 8.5 million viewers, with its average audience up 12% from last year’s opener.

By TSP Staff
Cam Schlittler pitches against Boston in the first inning of Wild Card Game 1 at Yankee Stadium on September 29, 2026.
Cam Schlittler pitches against Boston in Wild Card Game 1 at Yankee Stadium on September 29, 2026. · Credit: Brad Penner / Imagn Images

Commentary

The Yankees and Red Sox averaged 7.3 million viewers on NBC and Peacock for their September 29 Wild Card opener, according to Sports Media Watch’s report of NBC’s audience figures.

The audience peaked at 8.5 million. Average viewership increased 12% from the same matchup’s opener last year, which drew 6.5 million on ESPN.

NBC Sports said it was the most-watched Wild Card or Division Series Game 1 since 2006.

Yankees–Red Sox is one of baseball’s biggest rivalries, so one game cannot speak for the entire sport. But 7.3 million viewers is a strong audience for a playoff opener.

and they told me baseball was dying..