MLB Faces Backlash Over Risqué Ads During Playoffs: 'Parents Shouldn't Have to Worry'
For many families, the focus of this year’s Major League Baseball playoffs has shifted from towering home runs and dominant pitching performances to controversial advertisements that critics say have spoiled what has traditionally been a family-friendly viewing experience for parents and children alike.
The controversy intensified during the National League Championship Series and American League Championship Series — the final rounds before the World Series — when a handful of risqué ads sparked widespread debate online and even drew criticism from a player on one of the teams.
“Hey @MLB— wanna get more kids watching baseball? Maybe start with the commercials,” Taylor Murphy, an entrepreneur and the son of baseball legend Dale Murphy, wrote on X/Twitter. This post has nearly 3 million views.
“Watching the playoffs tonight with my kids and here's the rundown:
“- Megan Fox selling ED pills in a red bodysuit
“- The scariest movie trailer you've ever seen
“- Sydney Sweeney in zero clothes promoting betting on sports
“Leagues can't figure out why kids don't watch. You don't need a Nickelodeon game. You're not the Savannah Bananas. Just show baseball in a way I can leave on in my house.”
The Sweeney ad spotlights Novig, a gambling company, and features the actress and model in a series of poses with sporting equipment barely covering her nude body. Trailers for horror movies are common during October, but they have drawn increased attention this year because they are airing alongside other provocative advertisements, including one featuring Megan Fox.
“Agree with my son, Taylor,” Dale Murphy wrote on X/Twitter.
Alex Call, an outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers —who are playing the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLCS — also spoke out. His X/Twitter post has 1 million views.
“Can we please get the soft porn ads off playoff broadcasts, TBS, Fox, NBC, @MLB? My son wants to watch baseball with Dada, but how do I justify that when a half-naked women could come on screen anytime??” Call asked. “This is America’s Pastime. Parents shouldn’t have to worry about this.”
Adam Triplett, a baseball fan who also serves as pastor of Covenant Fellowship in Bedford, Va., said the issue is about more than inappropriate advertisements—it's about cultivating the next generation of baseball fans.
“When you watch baseball with your kids, you shouldn't have to hold the remote the whole time. But watching the postseason series has been one of the most anxious things I’ve done as a parent. The ads are R-rated on both @FOXSports and @NBCSports,” Triplett wrote on X/Twitter.
“I’m a dad of three boys and three girls. I like the idea of having a game on together, answering their questions about a play, arguing over a call, and giving them someone to cheer for. Parents shouldn’t have to check every ad before deciding if the game can stay on. We literally mute it and close the hutch doors during commercial breaks.
“A kid can fall in love with baseball on an ordinary night on the couch, sitting next to someone who already loves the game. That’s something worth protecting.”
Taylor Murphy, whose post sparked widespread online discussion, summed up the frustration of parents who want to pass on their love of baseball to their children.
“I grew up lying on the living room floor watching every playoff game,” he wrote, “and it bums me out I can't give that to my 3 young sons. I love this game and want them to love it too.”
Photo Credit: ©YouTube - ScreenGrab
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published October 15, 2026.
