A pair of World Series contenders, the Yankees and Astros, will meet in MLB's opening weekend on Friday night at Minute Maid Park.
The Yankees are teeming with the excitement with the debut of Juan Soto, who was acquired from the Padres this offseason and makes the New York the preseason favorite to win the AL East. Over 16 games in spring training, the 25-year-old superstar appeared in 16 games and slashed .304/.373/.630 with four home runs, 10 RBI and nine runs scored.
Soto will be in the No. 2 spot ahead of fellow MVP candidate Aaron Judge in what will be a balanced and more powerful Yankees lineup than recent years.
Left-hander Carlos Rodón will make the start for the Yankees after struggles this spring when he finished with a 4.19 ERA, 0.98 WHIP over five starts in the Grapefruit League. Nonetheless, expectations are high for Rodón as he follows Nestor Cortes in the rotation as New York awaits the return of injured ace Gerrit Cole.
The Astros have won three consecutive AL West titles and are the favorite to win again, just ahead of the World-Series champion Rangers.
There will be a new face leading the way as Joe Espada takes over as manager for the retired Dusty Baker, but Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez will continue to anchor the lineup. Chas McCormick, Yainer Diaz, Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman also provide power and solid depth.
The pitching will be strong with Framber Valdez, Justin Verlander and Cristian Javier at the top of the rotation once Verlander returns from injury. The bullpen got a boost with the addition of Josh Hader, who joins Ryan Pressly, Bryan Abreu and Rafael Montero as the top relievers.
MORE: Watch 'Friday Night Baseball' tonight on Apple TV+ (free trial)
Here's what you need to know to watch the Astros host the Yankees on Friday night.
What channel is Yankees vs. Astros on tonight?
- TV channel: None
- Live stream: Apple TV+
Friday night's game between the Yankees and Astros will be broadcast on Apple TV+, the exclusive home of "Friday Night Baseball" for the 2024 MLB season.
What time is Yankees vs. Astros tonight?
- First pitch: 8:10 p.m. ET
The Yankees and Astros is set to start at 8:10 p.m. ET from Minute Maid Park in Houston.
Apple TV+ will have pregame coverage throughout the day with curated articles for each team and MLB. Fans can watch the pregame show broadcast live from Dodger Stadium beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Apple TV+ will broadcast another game on Friday night: Cardinals at Dodgers at 10 p.m. ET.
How to live stream Yankees vs. Astros
- Live stream: Apple TV+
The Yankees and Astros will be available exclusively through Apple TV+, but there are still different ways to stream the game. Apple TV+ is available to stream on your phone, tablet, computer and smart TV, as well as streaming devices such as Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire TV stick.
How much does Apple TV+ cost?
The service starts at $9.99 a month in the U.S. Yearly subscriptions begin at $99. In Canada, a monthly subscription is $12.99.
Apple does offer a seven-day free trial for new sign-ups, but you will need a subscription to watch MLB's "Friday Night Baseball" games beyond that.
The service is also home to the hit show "Ted Lasso," among other original series. It also operates MLS Season Pass, which allows fans to watch every MLS game without blackout restrictions, for an additional fee.
Apple TV+ 'Friday Night Baseball' schedule 2024
| Date | Game | First Pitch (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| March 29 | Yankees at Astros | 8:00 p.m. |
| March 29 | Cardinals at Dodgers | 10:00 p.m. |
| April 5 | Mets at Reds | 6:30 p.m. |
| April 5 | Astros at Rangers | 8:00 p.m. |
| April 12 | Brewers at Orioles | 7:00 p.m. |
| April 12 | Cubs at Mariners | 9:30 p.m. |
| April 19 | Rangers at Braves | 7:00 p.m. |
| April 19 | Diamondbacks at Giants | 10:00 p.m. |
| April 26 | Cardinals at Mets | 7:00 p.m. |
| April 26 | Rays at White Sox | 7:30 p.m. |
| May 3 | Giants at Phillies | 6:30 p.m. |
| May 3 | Blue Jays at Nationals | 6:30 p.m. |
| May 10 | Diamondbacks at Orioles | 7:00 p.m. |
| May 10 | Royals at Angels | 9:30 p.m. |
| May 17 | Rays at Blue Jays | 7:00 p.m. |
| May 17 | Twins at Guardians | 7:00 p.m. |
| May 24 | Brewers at Red Sox | 7:00 p.m. |
| May 24 | Orioles at White Sox | 7:30 p.m. |
| May 31 | Tigers at Red Sox | 7:00 p.m. |
| May 31 | Angels at Mariners | 10:00 p.m. |
| June 7 | Twins at Pirates | 6:30 p.m. |
| June 7 | Dodgers at Yankees | 7:00 p.m. |
| June 14 | Rangers at Mariners | 10:00 p.m. |
| June 14 | Angels at Giants | 10:00 p.m. |
| June 21 | Diamondbacks at Phillies | 6:30 p.m. |
| June 21 | Braves at Yankees | 7:00 p.m. |
| June 28 | Astros at Mets | 7:00 p.m. |
| June 28 | Padres at Red Sox | 7:00 p.m. |