HOUSTON (APX) -- The announcement that the 7:05 p.m. matchup between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros is MLB.tv's Free Game Of The Day sent shockwaves around the country late Saturday afternoon.

"Kevin Correia! Dallas Keuchel!" screamed Brent Kimbrell, a 22-year-old baseball fan from Peoria, Ill. "For free! I never dreamed this day would come!"

"Holy f***ing s***," he continued.

The prospect of watching Rod Barajas hit an 87-MPH fastball for a soft fly to center will likely prove irresistible for several of the nation's sports fans, who have few competing entertainment options, aside from baseball games involving teams in pennant races, Michigan vs. Notre Dame, Kansas State vs. Oklahoma, Clemson vs. Florida State, Arizona vs. Oregon, dozens of other college football games, Trouble With The Curve, Tommy Boy on Netflix, Don't Be Tardy For The Wedding reruns on Bravo, concerts, books, restaurants, the parking lot of the local 7-11, and self-immolation.

"As the regular season comes to an end, MLB.tv hopes to convince baseball fans to pay for its service next season," said Kim Hizer, a professor of sports marketing at the University of Dayton. "What better way to do that than by offering the possibility of a matchup between Chuckie Fick and Eric Fryer?"

The excitement continues Sunday at 2:05 p.m., as NFL owners fear that the Pirates' final game against the Astros before the Astros' move to the American League will simply prove too distracting.