Thursday’s series finale between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks will be broadcast exclusively on Facebook Watch. It will not be subject to local blackout.
Prior to the Facebook Watch broadcast, the Dodgers will stream a special edition of their Dodger Insider show, beginning at 12 p.m. on the team’s Facebook page. First pitch at Chase Field is set for 12:40 p.m. PT.
Produced by MLB Network, the game coverage will feature Rich Waltz on the call alongside analysts from both clubs, with Orel Hershiser representing the Dodgers’ and Eric Byrnes on behalf of the Diamondbacks. Alanna Rizzo of SportsNet LA will serve as the reporter.
In March, Major League Baseball and Facebook announced an expanded partnership for the 2018 season that granted the social network exclusive rights to live stream 25 games.
The agreement marked MLB’s first digital-only national broadcast. Last May, MLB and Facebook partnered to live stream 20 games that aired weekly on Friday nights as simulcasts of the home team’s television broadcast.
The Diamondbacks previously had one of their games selected as an online only broadcast, while this is a first for the Dodgers. The schedule of weekly games selected for Facebook Watch will be announced as the season progresses.