Before the season ended, I looked at the potential match-ups for the postseason and came to the conclusion that MLB would likely see a ratings decline compared to last year. With the Division Series set, sans the outcome of tonight’s match-up between the Rangers and Rays (first pitch, 8:07 pm ET on TBS), in the books, that is likely to be the case.

But, before then, TBS can point to the ALDS Game 4 between the Rays and Rangers and say that it was the lowest-rated and least-viewed MLB postseason telecast since it began airing the playoffs in '07. According to today’s edition of the SportsBusiness Daily, TBS averaged a 2.3 U.S. rating and 3.678 million viewers for Sunday's LDS telecasts, with the Rays-Rangers game pulling a 1.5 U.S. rating and 2.219 million. MLB had the disadvantage of going up against a slate of NFL games.

According to the SBD, the “net's previous low was for Phillies-Brewers NLDS Game Four in the same day/time slot in '08 (2.220 million viewers). Sunday's TBS MLB figures are also down from a 2.9 U.S. rating and 4.537 million viewers for three telecasts on the comparable day last year.”

Below is a breakdown of Sunday’s game.

Source: SportsBusiness Daily

Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey, as well as a contributor to FanGraphs and Forbes SportsMoney. He is available for hire or freelance. Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network.

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written by Devon Young, October 12, 2010

In game 3 (which was exciting!), they just came alive and I just knew Tampa would win the next game, so I didn't bother watching game 4. I started waiting for game 5 during the 9th inning of game 3.

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