Table of Contents
Out of the 2,460 regular season MLB games, most will appear regionally on a team’s local regional sports network (RSN). However, the “big” games, including playoff games, air to a national audience. Here is how to watch each nationally televised MLB game live online.
Regional is the rule
For example, the bulk of Cubs games can be viewed in the Chicago area on the Marquee Sports Network, the Orioles and Nationals play on MASN, the Tigers on Bally Sports Detroit, and so on.
The tricky thing about local RSN games is they are only broadcast for live TV streaming customers “in-market,” and it’s often confusing for fans as to which games they will get access to and which RSN they will see if they are on the regional fence for their favorite team. We cover the best in-market and out-of-market MLB viewing options for each team in the MLB section of our website.
In today’s post, I want to highlight a different type of MLB broadcast, the nationally televised games and how to watch each one. The nationally televised MLB games are a major source of revenue for MLB, with TV contracts for the rights to games like Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN worth over $500 million annually.
Nationally televised MLB games
Sunday Night Baseball – ESPN
Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN is the MLB equivalent of Monday Night Football, an iconic game that has been around forever that people love to watch. Sunday Night Baseball is an exclusive national broadcast for 25 games each season, which means that when your team appears in the game, the local RSN broadcast will be blacked out.
I’ve listed the live TV streaming services that carry ESPN below.
| DIRECTV STREAM | Fubo | Hulu + Live TV | Paramount+ | Sling Orange & Blue | YouTube TV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $74.99 / month | $74.99 / month | $69.99 / month | $5.99 / month | $50 / month | $72.99 / month |
Kay-Rod Sunday Night Baseball – ESPN2
With the success of “Manningcast,” the alternative broadcast of Monday Night Football, which features brothers, and legendary quarterbacks, Eli and Peyton Manning, ESPN has given former Yankee great Alex Rodriguez a similar format for 8-10 Sunday Night Baseball games. A-Rod’s show will appear on ESPN2. A-Rod’s co-host, Michael Kay, will continue in his role calling games for the YES Network.
I’ve listed the live TV streaming providers that carry ESPN2 below.
| DIRECTV STREAM | ESPN Plus | Fubo | Hulu + Live TV | Paramount+ | Sling Orange & Blue | YouTube TV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $74.99 / month | $9.99 / month | $74.99 / month | $69.99 / month | $5.99 / month | $50 / month | $72.99 / month |
Tuesday Night Baseball – TBS
Tuesday Night Baseball, which used to air on FS1, ESPN, and MLB Network, will now air exclusively on TBS. Because this is an exclusive broadcast, if your team appears in this game, your local RSN will be blacked out.
I’ve listed the live TV streaming services that carry TBS below.
| DIRECTV STREAM | ESPN Plus | Fubo | Hulu + Live TV | Paramount+ | Sling Orange & Blue | YouTube TV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $74.99 / month | $9.99 / month | $74.99 / month | $69.99 / month | $5.99 / month | $50 / month | $72.99 / month |
Friday Night Baseball – Apple TV+
This is where things get frustrating for MLB fans. As the sports streaming industry explodes, major media properties are taking note. Behemoths like Apple and NBC are paying big dollars for the exclusive right to stream baseball games on their platforms.
Every Friday night, Apple will feature Friday Night Baseball, which will be a doubleheader that only Apple TV+ subscribers can watch. You don’t need an Apple TV box to watch the games, but you do need to use the Apple TV app, either on your phone or smart TV, to subscribe to the service.
How to watch Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+.
Sunday Morning Baseball – Peacock
Peacock, which is the streaming wing of NBC Universal, is rumored to have reached terms with MLB to feature 18 early time slot Sunday morning games each season. The Peacock games will be exclusive to the platform and will cause blackouts on local RSNs.
ESPN+ Regular Season Simulcasts
ESPN+ will broadcast one out-of-market MLB game each day during the regular season, but these games are simulcasts, meaning local RSN coverage remains intact and takes priority for in-market fans.
Read our ESPN+ review for sports fans.
YouTube MLB Game of the Week
YouTube has purchased the rights to a schedule of 15 MLB games, called “MLB Game of the Week Live on YouTube.” These games will be exclusive to YouTube and YouTube TV and will cause more blackouts for MLB fans.
MLB playoff games + World Series
MLB Wild Card Round – ESPN
The MLB playoffs are expanding from 10 to 12 teams. The new MLB Wild Card round of the playoffs will appear exclusively on ESPN.
| DIRECTV STREAM | Fubo | Hulu + Live TV | Paramount+ | Sling Orange & Blue | YouTube TV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| $74.99 / month | $74.99 / month | $69.99 / month | $5.99 / month | $50 / month | $72.99 / month |
American League Postseason – FS1
After the Wild Card round, which is now exclusive to ESPN, the rest of the AL playoffs will air on FS1. Below, I have listed the live TV streaming providers that carry FS1.
| DIRECTV STREAM | ESPN Plus | Fubo | Hulu + Live TV | Paramount+ | Sling Orange & Blue | YouTube TV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $74.99 / month | $9.99 / month | $74.99 / month | $69.99 / month | $5.99 / month | $50 / month | $72.99 / month |
National League Postseason – TBS
TBS, as part of a major push by Turner Sports to snap up more marketshare for broadcasting live sporting events, has secured the rights to the full slate of NL playoff games after the Wild Card round on ESPN. Below, I have listed the live TV streaming providers that carry TBS.
| DIRECTV STREAM | ESPN Plus | Fubo | Hulu + Live TV | Paramount+ | Sling Orange & Blue | YouTube TV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| $74.99 / month | $9.99 / month | $74.99 / month | $69.99 / month | $5.99 / month | $50 / month | $72.99 / month |
World Series – FOX
The entirety of the World Series will appear on your local FOX affiliate. I like this arrangement because it allows more Americans, even ones who can’t afford cable or a live TV streaming service, to watch the MLB championship. Below, I have listed the live TV streaming providers that carry FOX. Note: Sling TV carries FOX and NBC, but only in select markets. If you aren’t in one of these markets, it will be necessary to purchase and configure an air antenna to watch ABC, CBS, FOX, or NBC on Sling.
| DIRECTV STREAM | ESPN Plus | Fubo | Hulu + Live TV | Paramount+ | Sling Orange & Blue | YouTube TV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $74.99 / month | $9.99 / month | $74.99 / month | $69.99 / month | $5.99 / month | $50 / month | $72.99 / month |