A four-game NL Central weekend series continues on Friday, August 23, when the Pittsburgh Pirates host the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

The game is scheduled to begin at 6:40 p.m. EST and will be broadcast exclusively on Apple TV+. Fans who want to watch this MLB game can do so with an Apple TV+ subscription. Apple TV+ offers a 7-day free trial to new users and costs $9.99 per month after that.

The game will not be available on your local cable provider or MLB.TV. Instead, Reds vs. Pirates will stream exclusively on Apple TV+ as part of a Friday Night Baseball doubleheader.

Unlike last season, this year a subscription is required to watch games on Apple TV+.

How to watch the Reds vs. Pirates game: Here is the direct link you need to watch the game

You can watch Friday’s game exclusively through the Apple TV+ app, which is available on phones, streaming devices, smart TVs and computers.

Apple TV+ entered the world of sports streaming last season with a major broadcast deal with Major League Baseball that includes a weekly Friday Night Baseball broadcast exclusively on the app’s platform. The deal was touted as a step forward for MLB to reach a younger audience.

For more information on how to watch MLB games on Apple TV+, fans can click here.

WHO: Cincinnati Reds vs Pittsburgh Pirates

When: Friday, August 23, 6:40 p.m. EST

Where: PNC Park in Pittsburgh

Electricity: Stream with an Apple TV+ subscription. Apple TV+ offers a 7-day free trial for new users and costs $9.99 per month after that.

Tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek and *VividSeats

• *New customers who purchase tickets via VividSeats offers $20 off a ticket order of $200 or more by using the promo code MassLive20 during the checkout process.*

Gang: Browse jerseys, hats, polos, sneakers, shirts and more at Fanatics

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Former NL MVP and six-time All-Star Joey Votto announces his retirement from baseball

TORONTO (AP) — Former NL MVP and six-time All-Star Joey Votto announced his retirement from baseball in a short video on social media on Wednesday.

After shooting the video in front of Buffalo’s Sahlen Field, where he played for the Blue Jays’ Triple-A team, Votto drove across the border to downtown Toronto, where the Reds had just beaten the Blue Jays 11-7.

Votto went to the Cincinnati locker room to meet with former teammates and manager David Bell, then spoke to reporters about his decision to announce his retirement.

Born in Toronto, Votto signed a minor league contract with his hometown team in March and played in Triple-A after a lengthy layoff due to an ankle injury. In 15 games, he hit 6 for 42, one home run and four RBIs, and struck out 22 times.

“I had moments where I thought, ‘Is this the right thing to do?’ and ‘Do I want the organization to tell me I’m done?'” Votto said. “I just decided I’d played long enough and I could interpret what was going on, and I was terrible. I was terrible down there.”

Votto said he has “no regrets at all” about ending his career, but acknowledged he was disappointed not to have played for the Blue Jays this season.

“I wanted to play in Toronto for a year, at home, in front of my family, in front of my country,” he said. “I really wanted to play games here. I’m really sad that I didn’t get to do that.”

The 40-year-old first baseman became a free agent last fall after a 12-year, $251.5 million contract with the Reds, his only team in 17 major league seasons, expired. Cincinnati declined Votto’s $20 million option for 2024.

Votto said baseball has changed in recent years, adding that he is no longer able to play at the highest level.

“This game is faster,” Votto said. “I’m not fast. This game is about more dynamic defense. This game has changed over the last quarter of my career. I’m slower. The only thing I could try to do is play offense, and I’ve been terrible, especially for my position. At some point, the writing is on the wall.”

Votto, the 2010 NL MVP and 2011 Gold Glove winner, batted .294 with 356 home runs and 1,144 RBIs in 2,056 games.

Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson became friends with Votto while they were recovering from injuries together, adding that the star hitter was later a guest at his wedding.

“It was an honor to get to know him as a friend and as a player,” Stephenson said. “He is one of the greatest of all time.”

Bell said he learned of Votto’s decision after Wednesday’s win over the Blue Jays.

“I can’t express how happy I am about Joey’s career as a player,” said Bell. “Obviously just an incredible career.”

Blue Jays manager John Schneider also praised Votto.

“An incredible career,” said Schneider. “It was a pleasure for everyone to get to know him briefly in the spring.”

Due to a shoulder injury, Votto was only able to play 65 games in 2023. He did not play his first game until June 19, exactly 10 months after undergoing surgery on his left biceps and rotator cuff.

In his only spring training batting appearance for Toronto on March 17, Votto hit a home run against Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler. Later in the game, he stepped on a bat in the team’s dugout and was sidelined for the next three months.

“I just wasn’t good enough, and that’s the end of it,” Votto said. “At no point did I feel like I was even close to ready for the major leagues.”

The Associated Press contributed to this article.