Updated on: April 12, 2024 / 06:55 AM

GUIDE: How to Watch the MLB on TV, Streaming and more

Six months. Thirty teams. Over 2,400 games. Welcome to the beautiful chaos that is the MLB season. All this action is the soundtrack to many sports fans' summers, but with so much to consume and so many different ways to do it, things can seem a bit overwhelming at times. This is where we come in.

Our Live Sports on TV team has been grinding the tape, testing platforms, and comparing packages, to help you figure out the very best way to watch Major League Baseball in 2025. In this guide, we will run you through them all, tell you which are our favorites, and how you can access them.

Remember, as the season progresses, if you’re ever wondering how to watch MLB today, check out our Baseball Page, which has the up-to-date 2025 MLB TV & Streaming Schedule, match times, and broadcast information for every game

Overview of Viewing Options

In order to tune into some, or all, of the 2025 MLB season, you will need access to the following channels:

ESPN

As one of America’s biggest broadcasting channels, ESPN has managed to bag the highest-profile game every week on Sunday Night Baseball. ESPN will also showcase other regular-season games throughout the week, before exclusively hosting the Wild Card Series.

FOX

FOX is your host for Saturday Baseball (afternoon and evening), including regional games. On top of that, FOX gets the golden ticket of exclusive rights to the World Series, which makes it a necessary addition to your TV setup if you are a baseball fan.

FS1

Fox Sports 1 gets involved in some of the Saturday afternoon action, whilst also picking up games throughout the week, on Monday and Wednesday evenings.

TNT Sports Network

While TNT’s primary channel does not carry MLB games, its sister channels TBS and TruTV carry games on Tuesday nights, with MAX showcasing these games as their partner streaming app.

The Roku Channel

The Roku Channel is the newest addition to the Major League Baseball party, carrying the Sunday afternoon/morning slate of games.

MLB Network

MLB Network is a fantastic hub for baseball fans, treating you to round-the-clock MLB content. This includes the very best analysis and breakdowns from its studio shows to live games all throughout the season, typically taking place on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings. For die-hard fans, this is a great channel to tap into, available with most major cable and streaming providers.

Apple TV+

Your Friday Night Double-headers are showcased on Apple TV+, who have exclusive access to both games. Whilst you do need a standalone subscription to access these games, fans get a unique viewing experience and a whole host of other Apple content to enjoy, from movies to television series and, of course, much more sport.

How to Avoid Blackout Restrictions when Watching the MLB

For enthusiasts of Major League Baseball, dealing with regional blackouts is an all too familiar obstacle. These blackouts were introduced to protect the exclusive rights of regional sports networks (RSNs), allowing them to show the game with less competition in the area. As a result, fans in certain areas may find themselves unable to access the live broadcasts of games. This is also meant to encourage fan attendance at the stadium.

To watch these games, gaining access to the respective regional sports networks is required, but it isn’t always easy. One way to identify the channel you need is the RSN Lookup Tool provided by DirecTV. If you put your zip code into this tool, it will let you know your in-market games and help you determine what packages you require.

One way to navigate around these frustrating blackouts is through an effective Virtual Private Network (VPN). These encrypt your data, including your IP address), enabling you to circumvent the restrictions. Be careful though, some of these VPNs can compromise your security and privacy, so we would always recommend opting for a reputable one like NordVPN or Surfshark.

Watching MLB in New York vs. Los Angeles: What Changes?

Blackout restrictions and regional networks are a huge part of the MLB viewing experience, so if you’re trying to figure out how to watch Yankees games without YES Network or how to stream Dodgers games in-market, you’re not alone.

Local games will be unavailable on streaming services like MLB.TV, which means having access to your regional sports network is essential. Every single region, and, therefore, team, has a different set of regional sports networks for watching your local team. One way to identify the channel you need is the RSN Lookup Tool provided by DirecTV. If you put your zip code into this tool, it will let you know your in-market games and help you determine what packages you require.
Thankfully, we have every single MLB game listed on our website, with up-to-date game times and broadcast information, so that you can easily find where and how to watch your team.

Detailed Comparison of Services

Cable and Satellite Options

The best way to ensure that you can watch as many MLB games as possible is to find the right cable package, which may be up there in price, but you will get plenty of value for that. If you are going down the cable route, you will need to find one that covers all your bases in regard to the required channels (ESPN, FOX, FS1, MLB Network, and TBS). Fortunately, the majority will cover them, which makes our lives easier.

Cox: $71.00 per month
DirecTV: $74.99 per month
Dish: $91.99 per month
Verizon Fios: $95 per month

*All prices shown reflect the cheapest package available.

Streaming Options

For streamers, there are plenty of options as well. Most of the major streaming providers have all of the channels we need for watching Major League Baseball, with the benefit of coming as part of more flexible packages. On top of that, each provider hands out some pretty nifty perks, so it’s worth doing some research to see which one suits you best. We have tested them all and picked out our favorite in the 'Editor's Choice' segment of this guide, but, for now, here are some of the most high-profile options to consider.

fuboTV: $79.99 per month
YouTube TV: $82.99 per month
DirectTV Stream: $89.99 per month
Hulu with Live TV: $81.99/mo.
SlingTV: $40-$55 per month

*All prices shown reflect the cheapest package available.

Other streaming Options (MLB.TV)

If you want to keep things simple and only worry about Baseball, then we are very happy to introduce you to MLB.TV. Having tried and tested a wide range of viewing options for the 2025 MLB season, this is by far the most straightforward, affordable, and effective for baseball fans trying to get exposure to as many home runs and strikeouts as possible. For just $29.99 per month, or $139.99 per year, you can get access to every out-of-market game live and on-demand, with pre- and post-game analysis, and access to MLB Network. As MLB access goes, it does not get much better than MLB TV.

However, it is worth noting that this only covers you for out-of-market clashes. You won’t be able to watch in-market contests, but these will be available on-demand approximately 90 minutes after the conclusion of the game.

Editor's Choice

When it comes to the best streaming service for MLB games in 2025, we have singled out DirecTV Stream. Its Choice package for $89.99 a month has every channel needed to not miss a national match, whilst also offering the widest array of regional sports networks and other channels. You also have the flexibility to treat your baseball nerdiness by adding in the MLB Extra Innings package for $25 a month, which will allow you to enjoy MLB Network Strike Zone and the Game Mix Channel. This gives you all the channels and all the extra stats overlays, analysis, and replays you need, but it does come at a cost of just over $100 a month in total. This, therefore, is our recommendation for the fans who don’t want to miss a game.

If you want to cut your costs and focus purely on baseball, MLB.TV at $29.99 will cover you. This fantastic package gives you access to every single out-of-market game, with the option to watch either the home or away feeds. Fans will also benefit from on-demand access, replays of historical clashes, and plenty of analysis. At under $30 a month, this is by far the cheapest way to ensure you get to enjoy the baseball action.

How to Watch MLB for Free

Watching MLB games for free hinges on whether you have access to the ESPN or Fox networks through digital antennas. If you have the right antenna and are in range, you will be able to catch the game over the air.

If this isn't enough for you, leveraging free trials of streaming platforms can give you temporary access to MLB. MLB.TV and other streaming services like Hulu, YouTube TV, and FuboTV provide free trials of varying lengths. By sequentially signing up for these trials, you can extend your free MLB viewing period. However, it's crucial to keep track of when each free trial concludes to avoid unintentional charges, as the subscription fees post-trial can be significant.

Season Schedule and Important Dates

March 27th: Opening Day
May 16-18th: Rivalry Weekend
June 8-9th: London Series
July 15th: MLB All-Star Game
July 31st: MLB Trade Deadline
September 29th: Final game of the regular season
October 1st: MLB Playoffs
October 25th: World Series
November 2nd: Game 7 of World Series (if needed)

Author: Venuse, Inc