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The MLB regular season has come to a close, but the Playoffs are just heating up. Our team has scoured the broadcast and streaming options to highlight everything you need to know about how to watch MLB games, including the best services for those without cable.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers are duking it out in the NLCS for the second year in a row, while the Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays clash in the ALCS. NLCS games air on FOX and FS1, and ALCS games are broadcast on TBS and truTV. The World Series will air on FOX.
You can find a full guide to streaming the MLB below, including services for the regular season. Several of these streaming platforms will also help you to watch the postseason.
See also: How to watch NFL games | How to watch college football games
How to watch MLB games: quick links
US: Apple TV, Fox, FS1, TBS, ESPN, NBC, Peacock, Netflix
DirecTV
YouTube TV
Apple TV
ESPN Unlimited
Peacock
Fox One
HBO Max
Netflix
Access subscriptions from anywhere: NordVPN
Regular Season: March 25-September 27, 2026
Playoffs: September 29-October 20, 2026 (at the latest)
World Series: October 23-31, 2026 (at the latest)
How to watch MLB games in the US
As usual, the MLB viewing situation gets complicated. Some of the viewing options are the same as last year, but there are also a few new broadcasters and streaming services in play. There are now several streaming service-exclusive national broadcasts, which means that even with the most comprehensive cable package in the world, diehard baseball fans will most likely still need to sign up for a streaming service or two this season.
For the purpose of this guide, we’re going to focus on national broadcasts/streams, so if you’re hoping to tune into local games, we recommend consulting your TV guide and regional sports network(s).
Nationally broadcast MLB games will air on FOX, FS1, TBS, ESPN, NBC, Peacock, Apple TV, and Netflix. ESPN’s weeknight MLB schedule looks a little bit different this year — with the bulk of the ESPN exclusive games taking place in June, July, and August — and Netflix and NBC/Peacock are picking up some of the slack on Sundays. Just keep in mind that every game is subject to blackout restrictions in local areas.
Thanks to some of the streaming exclusives, there’s no one way to watch every single nationally broadcast game. Our top recommendation for cord-cutters is DirecTV MySports . The month-to-month service carries FOX, FS1, TBS, ESPN, NBC, and the MLB Network in its lineup of 20+ sports channels. The plan also throws in access to ESPN Unlimited at no extra cost. Subscriptions typically cost $65 a month, but you can get your first month for just $50 after a free trial.
Another popular baseball-friendly live TV service is YouTube TV . The month-to-month service carries FOX, FS1, TBS, ESPN, and NBC in multiple plans, although YouTube TV is notably missing the MLB Network. YouTube TV’s Main plan costs $83 a month, but new users can get $15 a month off their first five months after a free trial.
Apple TV holds the rights to Friday Night Baseball games. Subscriptions cost $15 a month, and the service comes with a seven-day free trial. Sunday NBC games will be available through Peacock , and Peacock will even carry some streaming-exclusive games. Sports-friendly Peacock plans start at $13 a month for the Premium tier, but you can get a 24/7 live stream of your local NBC station with the $20 a month Peacock Premium tier. You can bundle Apple TV and Peacock together, starting at $18 a month. This bundle offers some savings compared to the price you’d pay if you subscribed to both services separately each month.
Games that air on ESPN will be available to live stream directly through ESPN Unlimited , which costs $32 a month. If you’re only interested in watching Saturday FOX and FS1 games, then the FOX One streaming service might be of interest. Plans start at $20 a month and come with a seven-day free trial. However, there’s also an option to bundle ESPN Unlimited and FOX One together for $40 a month, which offers some savings each month.
Similarly, those only interested in watching Tuesday TBS baseball games will be able to catch them through HBO Max . HBO Max offers sports live streaming from Warner Bros. channels on its ad-free tiers, which start at $18.49 a month.
Netflix carries coverage of very specific events, including the Opening Night game, the Home Run Derby, and the Field of Dreams game. Ad-supported Netflix plans start at $8 a month.
MLB.TV is a solid service for those looking to watch out-of-market games, beyond the national broadcasts (for example, a Boston Red Sox fan spending time down in Florida). At the start of the season, MLB.TV costs $30 a month or $150 a season.
If you’re a new subscriber, you can sign up for MLB.TV through ESPN , which will give you a free monthlong trial of ESPN Unlimited. After the free month, ESPN Unlimited will also auto-renew for $30 a month, on top of the MLB.TV monthly fee. However, ESPN Unlimited is not required to use your MLB.TV subscription, so you should be able to opt out of this before renewal.
How to watch MLB games from anywhere
If you’re traveling away from home, you can still keep up with your usual watch options with the help of a VPN. VPNs, or virtual private networks, are handy cybersecurity tools that let people alter their virtual locations. This way, they can access their usual websites and apps from anywhere, just like they would back home.
VPNs are also strong ways to improve online security and privacy. Since the services we’ve recommended require US methods of payment, this option will work best for Americans who are simply traveling abroad at the moment.
NordVPN is our go-to recommendation. It’s a tried-and-true app with a handy 30-day money-back guarantee if you find that it’s not what you’re looking for. You can learn more in our NordVPN review .
Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.
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