MLB Postseason Viewership Soars to Highest Since 2017

New reports confirm that Major League Baseball (MLB) is experiencing its most-viewed postseason in the United States since 2017. Viewership has surged, averaging 4.48 million viewers through the League Championship Series, marking a 13% increase over last year, according to MLB and Nielsen.

The excitement is palpable as the American League Championship Series (ALCS) on Fox, Fox Sports 1, and Fox Deportes averaged 4.99 million viewers across its seven games, matching last year’s ALCS where the New York Yankees triumphed over the Cleveland Guardians. This year’s ALCS has captivated audiences, with the Toronto Blue Jays‘ thrilling 4-3 victory against the Seattle Mariners in Game 7 attracting 9.03 million viewers, making it the most-watched ALCS game in eight years. The audience peaked at an astounding 12.35 million during the ninth inning.

The postseason’s impressive ratings are largely attributed to the first two rounds, which have generated significant interest. Despite the Los Angeles Dodgers’ four-game sweep over the Milwaukee Brewers impacting viewership on TNT Sports, the overall momentum remains strong. The Dodgers’ Game 4, featuring Shohei Ohtani‘s remarkable three-homer performance and ten strikeouts, averaged 3.51 million viewers, but the series averaged 4.7 million, a 17% decline from last year’s six-game series between the New York Mets and Dodgers.

MLB’s appeal is extending beyond U.S. borders, with notable growth in both Canada and Japan. Toronto’s entry into the World Series for the first time since 1993 achieved an average of 6 million viewers in Canada, becoming the most-watched Blue Jays game on Sportsnet. Meanwhile, Ohtani’s stellar Game 4 performance drew 10.26 million viewers in Japan, the second most-watched LCS game in the country’s history, despite the 16-hour time difference.

The National League Championship Series (NLCS) also saw record-breaking numbers, averaging 7.34 million viewers in Japan, a 26% increase from last year, as fans continue to follow Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki in record numbers.

As the postseason continues, MLB’s growing viewership signals a resurgence in interest and engagement from fans both domestically and internationally. With the World Series on the horizon, anticipation is building for what promises to be an exhilarating conclusion to the season. Fans are encouraged to stay tuned for updates as the excitement unfolds.