Baseball season is back, and the viewing options are more complex than ever. 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 first game of the 2026 regular season kicked off on Wednesday night with a Netflix exclusive Yankees vs. Giants match-up, wherein the Yankees swept 7-0. The rest of the teams will play their opening games over the next couple of days, including a Thursday night match-up between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the reigning World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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.
We've broken down all the details on tuning into nationally broadcast MLB games this season. Opening Weekend is chock-full of multiple can't-miss games, and we've outlined the national broadcast/streaming schedule below.
How to watch MLB games in the US
As usual, the MLB viewing situation gets complicated. We're going to focus on national broadcasts/streams in this guide, 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 two months for just $45 a month right now after a five-day free trial.
DirecTV's MySports pack carries popular sports channels, from mainstays like ESPN to niche offerings like the ACC Network.
Apple TV holds the rights to Friday Night Baseball games. Subscriptions cost $13 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 $11 a month for the Premium tier, but you can get a 24/7 live stream of your local NBC station with the $17 a month Peacock Premium tier. You can bundle Apple TV and Peacock together, starting at $15 a month. This bundle offers some savings compared to the price you'd pay if you subscribed to both services separately each month.
The standard Peacock and Apple TV bundle unlocks ad-supported on-demand content from Peacock's full library, select Peacock sports live streaming, and everything that Apple TV has to offer.
Games that air on ESPN will be available to live stream directly through ESPN Unlimited, which costs $30 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.
ESPN Unlimited and FOX One offer every piece of programming from ESPN and FOX properties, respectively. This includes full live streams of flagship channels.
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). 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.
NordVPN is top of the pile of the best VPN services. It offers excellent value, with a strong feature set and a low monthly price. A wide selection of international servers, high-end security, fast connections, and audited privacy protection have made the brand a household name in the world of VPNs for a reason.
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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