ESPN Radio and HBO Max/TBS/truTV bring you the Tampa Bay Rays vs New York Yankees — watch from Mike Couzens, Brian Anderson and friends

The eighth annual MLB Divisional Series between the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays lands tonight, 8 October 2026, with American and British viewers alike able to follow every kick-off from home. Two independent broadcast packages are on duty: an ESPN Radio feed produced in the United States, and a second package run across HBO Max / TBS / truTV. Both are engineered for low-latency, high-detail coverage, so whether you tune in from New York, London or anywhere in between, you will hear the crowd, see the base and be told the moment a single kick lands.

For those watching the American side, the ESPN Radio booth is staffed by Mike Couzens as main commentator, supported by co-commentators Eduardo Pérez and Tim Kurkjian. This trio has been named as the team set to call the American League Division Series between the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays, according to the announced ESPN Radio postseason broadcast schedule. Fans of the booth will know that Tim Kurkjian has a long history in the world of baseball broadcasting: he is a National Baseball Hall of Fame sportswriter who has contributed across studio coverage, and he recently drew attention for a viral reaction to Austin Wells deciding to run back to base — a moment he has since discussed alongside ESPN's Karl Ravech, A.J. Pierzynski and Erik Kratz.

The second package, delivered across HBO Max, TBS and truTV, pairs Brian Anderson as main commentator with co-commentator Jeff Francouer. The booth also fields two pundits — Curtis Granderson and Jimmy Rollins — plus a third pundit, Pedro Martinez, while Lauren Shehadi is on hand as the reporter feeding live updates from the field. That is a busy roster for a single night, and it means the full yard — from first kick to final settle — is likely to be covered from several angles at once.

Who is calling the action

Mike Couzens leads the ESPN Radio commentary, a role that slots him into the same broadcast family as Pérez and Kurkjian. Eduardo Pérez rounds out the ESPN co-commentators, and between the three of them the booth is set to handle everything from early kick-off timing to the final tally.

On the HBO Max / TBS / truTV side, Brian Anderson is the headline commentator. He should not be confused with several existing Major League Baseball players who share a similar name: one is a former pitcher born in 1972, another an outfielder tied to the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox who played professionally until just before the 2026 season, and a third a rightfielder born in 1993. The Brian Anderson called for tonight's broadcast is a distinct figure, brought in specifically to anchor this package.

Where to watch

If you want the American-sourced feed, look for the ESPN Radio broadcast schedule, which lays out the full postseason lineup including tonight's Yankees versus Tampa Bay Rays call. For the alternative package, tune into whatever HBO Max, TBS and truTV are pushing for tonight's event. Both feeds should be live ahead of the 01:00 UK start, so set your reminders and watch for the first kick.

From the ESPN booth's Mike Couzens, Eduardo Pérez and Tim Kurkjian to the HBO Max / TBS / truTV team led by Brian Anderson, tonight's coverage is being assembled by a broad set of hands. American and British viewers alike can follow along, so pick your channel, grab a seat, and be ready for the moment Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees finally kick off.

Article generated: 7 October 2026, 13:01 GMT