The MLB Division Series is absolutely blowing past expectations right now, building on a wild card round that already had everyone glued to the screen. Fox Sports just dropped numbers showing their initial two days of NLDS coverage, featuring the Braves and Dodgers, as well as the Padres and Brewers, averaged 3.2 million viewers. That’s a 2% jump from last year when the network aired the AL Division Series, proving the postseason vibe is hitting different this time around.
These Ratings Are Breaking Records, Even Against The NFL
You wanna talk about big numbers? Game 1 of the Atlanta-Los Angeles series alone pulled in an average of 5.48 million viewers, making it the most-watched LDS Game 1 on any network since 2018. Over on TNT Sports, their coverage of the ALDS, pitting the Yankees against the Rays and the White Sox against the Guardians, averaged 2.8 million viewers for a Saturday doubleheader across TBS, truTV, and HBO Max. That’s a 6% bump from 2024, the last time TNT Sports had the AL playoffs.
And get this, these strong MLB numbers came in despite going head-to-head with some serious NFL competition. CBS Sports actually set a new milestone, averaging a massive 28.4 million viewers for a late Sunday afternoon game between the Chiefs and Raiders, making it the most-watched NFL game so far this season.
This whole postseason has been wild for viewership. The momentum started in the Wild Card series, with NBC Sports platforms averaging 7.3 million viewers for the Yankees’ Game 1 win over the Red Sox, and 7.4 million for Game 2 where New York completed the sweep. Those broadcasts collectively represented the most-watched first two games of any MLB wild card or Division Series since 2004. Even the Phillies-Braves series, which averaged 4.8 million viewers despite its first two games airing in afternoon slots, saw its Game 3 clincher, won by Atlanta, pull in 6.1 million viewers. That Game 3 was the most-watched Game 3 of an NL wild card or Division Series since 2006.
The Underdogs Are Absolutely Crushing It
But it’s not just the ratings that are surprising everyone, it’s *who* is driving them. The initial LDS games have shown a shocking rise from the league’s “lower-revenue upstarts.” Seriously, these teams are built on a budget, and they are flat-out dominating.
Take the Rays, for example. They’ve raced out to a 2,0 series lead over the powerhouse Yankees, and their luxury tax payroll of $113.2 million is the fourth smallest in MLB. That’s straight-up disrespectful to the big spenders, and it’s awesome. Then you’ve got the Brewers, who are holding a 2,1 series lead over the Padres heading into tonight’s NLDS Game 4 at Petco Park. Milwaukee ranks 19th in luxury-tax payroll at $154.7 million, and they’re still the league’s smallest media market. Talk about punching above your weight class!
And don’t even get me started on the White Sox. With a $117.6 million luxury-tax payroll, just ahead of the Rays at No. 26, they’ve got a 2,0 series lead over the Guardians. This team is chasing an AL Championship Series berth after three straight 100-loss seasons, including a soul-crushing 41-121 campaign in 2024 that went down as the worst in modern MLB history. If they pull this off, it’s an all-time story.
Game 3 for the White Sox starts Wednesday at Rate Field, kicking off a quadrupleheader across Fox Sports and TNT Sports. They’re looking to clinch a berth to the LCS round with just one more win. The Brewers are also fighting in Game 4 tonight against the Padres to build on their series lead. This postseason is delivering drama and upsets, and you absolutely do not want to miss what happens next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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