MLB Network will present a new commentary team for the upcoming MLB Network Showcase game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Kansas City Royals on Saturday, Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. EST. The MLB Central morning team will be on the call for the out-of-market national telecast, including Robert Flores as the play-by-play announcer, Mark DeRosa providing analysis and Lauren Shehadi serving as the reporter. This will mark the first time in the nine-year history of the signature morning program that the trio will call a Major League Baseball game together.
Flores, DeRosa and Shehadi first started working together on the program in 2018 and recorded their 750th episode last season. The morning show cast will step in for the regular MLB Network Showcase broadcast crew that consists of Bob Costas, Matt Vasgersian, Tom Verducci and Jon Morosi for the interleague matchup.
Flores has performed play-by-play announcing on two BBC broadcasts of the Division Series last year that were co-produced with MLB Network, along with college basketball and boxing matches for ESPN. DeRosa has worked as a color commentator across game broadcasts and studio programs on MLB Network over the years, while Shehadi has been an on-field reporter for both MLB Network Showcase telecasts and within the MLB on TBS broadcast property.
Over the years, the MLB Central morning program has been on-site for several momentous occasions, including receiving their own bobblehead from the Brooklyn Cyclones in 2018, broadcasting live from the MLB London Series for the last two seasons and throwing out ceremonial first pitches at Citi Field and Citizens Bank Park.
MLB Network recently launched a direct-to-consumer broadcast offering through which fans can purchase either a standalone or bundled subscription to watch programming across the league-owned broadcast entity. MLB Central takes the air on weekday mornings from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST and features highlights, analysis, breakdowns and special guests. Fans with a participating pay television subscription can access the network through an authenticated stream for the 10th consecutive year. MLB Network recently registered its most-watched MLB Network Showcase game since August 2022, according to a social media post on X from analyst Dan Plesac, who was on the call for the Milwaukee Brewers’ matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
