The 3 Biggest Series During the MLB.TV Free Preview, May 16-18

In honor of the first-ever official MLB Rivalry Weekend, here’s a look at three of the biggest games and how to watch MLB.TV for free from May 16-18 with Sling!

May 16-18 marks MLB’s first official Rivalry Weekend, which spotlights rivalries based on factors ranging from geographical to musical (the Mariners and Padres will square off for the inaugural Vedder Cup, which was “designed by the Pearl Jam frontman himself”). To celebrate Rivalry Weekend, MLB.TV will be in free preview for all Sling subscribers all weekend long, allowing baseball fans to watch all out-of-market games from Friday through Sunday.

Here's a look at all the matchups you can catch on MLB.TV this weekend, along with a spotlight on three of the most important series. To watch out-of-market MLB games all season long with Sling, use the link below to subscribe to MLB.TV.

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What are the Matchups During MLB Rivalry Weekend?

While most of the rivalries fall along geographic lines, others are based on shared history or other factors. Here’s a look at the 15 series, 11 of which are Interleague:

• Astros at Rangers
• White Sox at Cubs
• Guardians at Reds
• Pirates at Phillies
• Nationals at Orioles
• Mets at Yankees
• Tigers at Blue Jays
• Braves at Red Sox
• Rays at Marlins
• Cardinals at Royals
• Twins at Brewers
• Rockies at D-backs
• Mariners at Padres
• Angels at Dodgers
• Athletics at Giants

Here Are the Three Most Important Series During Rivalry Weekend

The stakes in some of these rivalry games are higher than others. Here are three of the most important series for both teams:

Mets at Yankees

Friday, May 16 - 7:05pm ET

Saturday, May 17 - 1:05pm ET

Sunday, May 18 - 7:10pm ET

It’s always a good time when these Big Apple teams get together for the fabled “Subway Series.” But this year, the stakes are personal: This will be the first time outfielder Juan Soto returns to Yankee Stadium since joining their crosstown rivals on a massive 15-year $765 million dollar contract, the biggest in the history of professional sports. Soto’s averages are down a touch to start the season, but it hasn’t mattered much, as the Mets are still in first place in the competitive NL East.

The Yankees are also leading their division, and they’ve hardly missed Soto’s production due to the electrifying start from last year’s AL MVP, Aaron Judge. Judge is hitting a scorching-hot .412 to open the 2025 season, and his 15 home runs lead the majors. We nearly got a Subway Series in last year’s World Series, and if these teams keep it up, Rivalry Weekend could be a preview of the Fall Classic.

Athletics at Giants

Friday, May 16 - 10:15pm ET

Saturday, May 17 - 9:05pm ET

Sunday, May 18 - 4:05pm ET

These two former Bay Area teams both have rich histories, and their rivalry was well-established even before the earth-shaking 1989 Bay Bridge World Series. But both teams have been in a bit of decline in recent seasons…which makes their successes early in the 2025 campaign all the more energizing. The Giants enter this weekend’s series just four games out of first place in the ultra-competitive NL West, while the Athletics are just two games out of first place in the AL West. Both teams play in divisions with recent World Series winners, so these May games have surprisingly high stakes. Local bragging rights don’t hurt either.

Cardinals at Royals

Friday, May 16 - 7:40pm ET

Saturday, May 17 - 7:10pm ET

Sunday, May 18 - 2:10pm ET

The Cardinals got off to a slow start to the season, but they enter this weekend’s I-70 Series one of the hottest teams in the MLB, having won nine of their last 10 games. They’ve been quality wins too, as they took two of three in series against both the Mets and the Phillies while sweeping the Pirates and Nationals. The win streak leaves them just one game back of the first place Cubs entering the weekend.

At 25-20, the Royals are off to a solid start as well, but the AL Central is suddenly one of the most competitive divisions in the MLB. The Tigers have an MLB-best 29-15 record, and the Guardians aren’t far behind at 25-18. That leaves the Royals in third, but they’re only a half game ahead of the only team hotter than the Cardinals – the Minnesota Twins, who are riding an 11-game winning streak entering their series against the Brewers. So in terms of divisional stakes for both teams, this is probably the most important series of Rivalry Weekend.

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