Yankees-Red Sox Wild Card Game Delivers Highest Viewership in Two Decades
The historic matchup captivated audiences, marking a significant increase in viewership for MLB playoff games.
Tuesday's Wild Card game between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox drew an average of 7.3 million viewers on NBC and Peacock, making it the most-watched first-round MLB game in 20 years. The significant viewership numbers underscore the enduring appeal of "The Rivalry" in postseason play.
The 9-0 Yankees victory was the most-viewed Game 1 in either the wild-card or division series rounds since 2006, according to NBC. The broadcast peaked at 8.5 million viewers between 9:00 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. ET, representing a 12 percent increase compared to the same game in the previous year's wild-card series between the two teams.
While viewership soared, the on-field results were lopsided. The Yankees ultimately swept the Red Sox, outscoring them 18-2 across the two games. The Yankees secured Game 1 with a late offensive surge, scoring five runs in the eighth inning, and followed up with a six-run sixth inning in Game 2.
In the National League, the Phillies-Braves wild-card Game 1 also saw strong viewership, averaging 3.9 million viewers across NBC and Peacock. This marked the most-watched afternoon wild-card Game 1 in history and a 15 percent increase from the 2025 Padres-Cubs matchup.
These viewership gains coincide with NBC's return to broadcasting Major League Baseball playoff games for the first time in 25 years. The trend of increased viewership appears to be league-wide, with national MLB broadcasts reportedly up 44 percent in May compared to the previous year. Furthermore, in-game attendance has risen for four consecutive seasons, reaching 71.5 million fans in 2026, the highest total since 2017.