Geoff Blum (Astros Analyst) and Rick Manning (Guardians Analyst) Join Jason Benetti (Play-by-Play) in MLB Sunday Leadoff Booth
NBC Sports’ Ahmed Fareed Hosts Pregame Coverage on Peacock at 11:30 a.m. ET, Alongside Former MLB Player Gordon Beckham
STAMFORD, Conn. – Aug. 4, 2022 – All-Star designated hitter Yordan Alvarez, who ranks second in the American League with 30 home runs this season, and the AL West-leading Houston Astros visit four-time All-Star Jose Ramirez and the Cleveland Guardians from Progressive Field on MLB Sunday Leadoff live this Sunday, August 7 at Noon ET on Peacock.
Play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti will be joined in this week’s MLB Sunday Leadoff booth by analysts Geoff Blum (Astros analyst) and Rick Manning (Guardians analyst). Benetti will be joined in the MLB Sunday Leadoff booth each week by local analysts from the participating teams.
Blum, a 14-year MLB veteran from 1999-2012 as an infielder, spent five seasons with Houston (2002-03, 2008-10). He won the 2005 World Series while with the White Sox and hit the go-ahead home run in the top of the 14th inning of Game 3 against Houston. Blum currently serves as an Astros analyst on AT&T SportsNet.
Manning, a 13-year MLB veteran, spent eight-plus seasons (1975-83) with Cleveland and won a Gold Glove in 1976 as a centerfielder. He was the No. 2 overall pick in the 1972 MLB draft. Manning currently serves as a Guardians analyst for Bally Sports Great Lakes.
This week’s MLB Sunday Leadoff coverage begins with the pregame show at 11:30 a.m. ET on Peacock. NBC Sports’ Ahmed Fareed is the pre- and postgame host of MLB Sunday Leadoff and also serves as the in-game reporter.
Eleven-year MLB veteran Gordon Beckham, who was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2008 MLB Draft and currently serves as a White Sox analyst on NBC Sports Chicago, will serve as this week’s MLB Sunday Leadoff pre- and postgame analyst alongside Fareed. Beckham was previously an analyst on MLB Sunday Leadoff for the Phillies-Nationals game on June 19. Rob Friedman, aka PitchingNinja, will also join the pregame show to provide pitching breakdowns.
How to Watch:
Date | Show | Time (ET) | Platform |
Sun., Aug. 7 | MLB Sunday Leadoff Pregame | 11:30 a.m. | Peacock |
Sun., Aug. 7 | Astros vs. Guardians | Noon | Peacock |
Commentators:
- Play by Play: Jason Benetti
- Analysts: Geoff Blum and Rick Manning
- Pre- and Postgame Host/In-game Reporter: Ahmed Fareed
- Pre- and Postgame Analyst: Gordon Beckham
Beginning Sunday, May 8 with the debut game of MLB Sunday Leadoff, Peacock will live stream an NBC Sports-produced baseball game for 18 consecutive weeks, with start times for the first six Sunday games at 11:30 a.m. ET and the following 12 Sunday games beginning at Noon ET. Each game will feature NBC Sports-produced pregame and post-game shows on Peacock.
On each of the 18 Sundays that Peacock presents a game, it will be scheduled as the exclusive home of live MLB action until 1:30 p.m. ET that day, when the remainder of the day’s schedule will begin. Peacock was also the exclusive home of the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game – featuring top minor league prospects – which was played during All-Star Week in July at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
For steps on how to watch MLB Sunday Leadoff on Peacock, click here.
Peacock’s expansive programming features live sports coverage including Triple Crown horse racing, golf, INDYCAR, the USFL, Sunday Night Football, Olympic sports, Premier League, Notre Dame Football, and much more. Peacock also offers daily sports programming on the NBC Sports channel which streams Peacock Original Brother from Another and staples like The Dan Patrick Show, Pro Football Talk Live, and The Rich Eisen Show.
2022 MLB Sunday Leadoff on Peacock Game Schedule
Date | Time | Matchup |
August 7 | Noon ET | Houston Astros at Cleveland Guardians |
August 14 | Noon ET | San Diego Padres at Washington Nationals |
August 21 | Noon ET | Chicago White Sox at Cleveland Guardians |
August 28 | Noon ET | Los Angeles Dodgers at Miami Marlins |
September 4 | Noon ET | Toronto Blue Jays at Pittsburgh Pirates |
-- NBC SPORTS --