FS1 on Thursday night drew a 3.0 overnight rating for Yankees-Indians ALDS Game 1. Last year, TBS had the Thursday night ALDS opener, drawing a 3.7 for Indians-Red Sox. FS1's first game last year was Cubs-Giants, which drew a 3.9 overnight on a Friday night. Two years ago, FS1 drew a 2.3 overnight for Royals-Astros in primetime, but that game also had a 46-minute rain delay. Yankees-Indians delivered FS1 a primetime win among all cable networks on Thursday. Yankees-Indians projects to be FS1's most-watched telecast of any kind since Cubs-Dodgers NLCS Game 6 last year. N.Y. drew an 8.4 local rating for the game, while Cleveland-Akron drew a 24.0 local rating. Both figures are an FS1-best in those respective markets. Meanwhile, MLB Network drew a 1.8 overnight for Red Sox-Astros Thursday afternoon, marking the best figure for any LDS opener since Orioles-Tigers in '14. Thursday marked the first time MLB Net aired the opening game for the LDS. Red Sox-Astros also is the second-best overnight on record for an MLB Net telecast, behind only Cubs-Giants NLDS Game 2 last year, whcih drew a 3.4 overnight. Boston drew a 7.0 local rating for the game, which is MLB Net's best figure on record in the market. Houston drew a 7.2 local rating, which is the net's second-best figure on record in the market (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).
APPLE OF THEIR EYES: In N.Y., Justin Terranova writes Keith Hernandez is "now a part of the decidedly New York feel to this postseason." The Mets analyst has joined the Fox pre- and postgame show that includes former Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez and former SNY reporter Kevin Burkhardt. Additionally, SNY's Ron Darling is calling the Cubs-Nationals NLDS for TBS, while YES Network's David Cone has been added to Fox' team for the Red Sox-Astros ALDS. Fox two weeks ago asked Burkhardt if Hernandez "would be a good fit." Burkhardt "didn't hesitate with a yes, and the New Jersey native called Hernandez to see if he would be interested." When he was, the two sides "quickly worked out a deal." Hernandez is "known for his critiques, honesty and wit." But the challenge he will face is "displaying that within the confines of a studio show, as opposed to the rhythms of a three-hour-plus game" (N.Y. POST, 10/6).
