How to Stream MLB Games Without Cable (2026)
DIRECTV STREAM covers the most MLB games among the services we compare; Netflix events and Apple TV Friday games need those services separately.
We may earn commissions from providers featured here. Compensation can affect placement. Affiliate Disclosure
Who airs what: MLB packages for 2026-28
New three-year deals with ESPN, NBCUniversal, and Netflix began in 2026. The FOX and Apple deals continue.
| Game window / package | Network | Streaming access | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday games, All-Star Game, World Series, select postseason | FOX / FS1 | YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM; Sling Blue (FS1; FOX select markets) | FOX One out of scope |
| Tuesday nights; Division and League Championship Series (alternating) | TBS | YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling (both plans), DIRECTV STREAM; HBO Max | Not on Fubo (no Warner Bros. Discovery networks) |
| Sunday Night Baseball, Sunday Leadoff, Labor Day primetime, Wild Card Series, Draft, Futures Game | NBC / Peacock | Peacock; NBC games on YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM, Sling Blue (select markets) | SNB moved from ESPN to NBC in 2026 |
| 30-game midweek national package | ESPN | ESPN app (ESPN Unlimited), YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling Orange, Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM | ESPN also sells MLB.TV and holds in-market rights for six clubs |
| Opening Night, Home Run Derby, Field of Dreams game, WBC in Japan | Netflix | Netflix only | Special events, not a weekly package |
| Friday Night Baseball doubleheader | Apple TV | Apple TV only (not ranked here) | Through 2028; no local blackouts |
| Out-of-market games | MLB.TV | Sold through ESPN; streams in the ESPN app; YouTube TV add-on | Includes an MLB Network stream; blacks out in-market and national exclusives |
| MLB Network (linear) | MLB Network | Sling Sports Extra, Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM (Choice and MySports), ESPN app via MLB.TV | Not on YouTube TV since January 2023; Hulu + Live TV unconfirmed |
| Local games | RSNs and MLB in-market streaming | Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM (Choice and up); FanDuel via Prime Video Channels in select markets; MLB and ESPN in-market subscriptions for 20 clubs | Varies by club and market |
Source: docs/research/channel-sports-availability.md and MLB's media-rights press release, verified Oct 12, 2026.
Services that carry MLB games, ranked
Ordered by packages reached, then by starting price. Apple TV holds Friday games but is not among the ten services we rank.
-
Nearly every channel, at a cable-like price
- Deepest channel lineup, up to 185+
- Regional sports plus ESPN and TNT
- 5-day free trial, unlimited at-home streams
Highest price; regional sports fee up to $19.99
- Live TV
- Sports
- DVR
- Free Trial
- No Contract
From$74.99/moMySports genre pack; ENTERTAINMENT $89.99
Best cable-like channel lineup
Editorial scoreGood6.7/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
Built for fans who need their regional sports network
- Most regional sports networks of any streamer
- Up to 10 streams, unlimited DVR, 4K events
- Free trial usually offered
No TNT or TBS; regional sports fee extra
- Live TV
- Sports
- DVR
- 4K
- Free Trial
From$55.99/moSports tier; Pro $88.99 plus regional sports fee
Best for regional sports networks and soccer
Editorial scoreGood6.7/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
The best all-around cable replacement
- 100+ channels incl. ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, ESPN
- Unlimited cloud DVR, 3 streams
- Intro offer: $59.99/mo for 2 months
$82.99/mo after the intro period
- Live TV
- Sports
- DVR
- Free Trial
- No Contract
From$82.99/moBase Plan; promo $59.99 for 2 months for new members
Best live TV overall
Editorial scoreExcellent8.0/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
Live TV plus three on-demand libraries in one plan
- 95+ live channels with locals, ESPN, TNT
- Includes Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN Select
- Unlimited cloud DVR
2 streams unless you add $9.99/mo
- Live TV
- Sports
- DVR
- On-Demand
- No Contract
From$99.99/moWith ads, rate effective Oct 21, 2026; $109.99 Premium
Best bundle: live TV plus Disney+ and ESPN
Editorial scoreVery good7.4/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
Live TV for less, if you can skip CBS
- Lowest-priced major live TV service
- Orange: ESPN, TNT; Blue: FS1, NFL Network
- No contract; cheap add-on packs
No CBS; 1 stream on Orange; 50-hour DVR
- Live TV
- Sports
- DVR
- No Contract
From$45.99/moOrange or Blue; $60.99 for both
Best budget live TV
Editorial scoreVery good7.1/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
NFL, NBA and Premier League without a cable bundle
- Sunday Night Football and NBA on NBC
- Most Premier League matches
- Annual plans on every tier
Select tier has no live sports
- Sports
- On-Demand
- No Contract
- Ad Plan
From$8.99/moSelect tier (no sports); Premium $12.99
Best value for NFL, NBA, and Premier League
Editorial scoreVery good7.7/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
The biggest streaming library for originals and movies
- Largest original series and film library
- Plans from $8.99/mo with ads
- Works on virtually every device
4K only on the $26.99 Premium plan
- On-Demand
- 4K
- No Contract
- Ad Plan
From$8.99/moStandard with ads; $19.99 ad-free
Best for on-demand originals
Editorial scoreExcellent8.5/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
-
A strong bonus if you already pay for Prime
- Included with Amazon Prime membership
- Thursday Night Football and NBA games
- 30-day Prime trial for new members
Ad-free and 4K need the $4.99 Ultra add-on
- On-Demand
- Sports
- Free Trial
- No Contract
- Ad Plan
From$8.99/moPrime Video alone; included with $14.99 Prime
Best if you already pay for Prime
Editorial scoreVery good7.3/10Verified Oct 12, 2026
Key facts
- Rights holders: FOX/FS1, TBS, NBC/Peacock, ESPN, Netflix, Apple TV.
- MLB.TV blacks out in-market games and national exclusives.
- Fubo has no TBS: Tuesday games and some playoff series missing.
- YouTube TV dropped MLB Network in January 2023.
- DIRECTV STREAM needs Choice for MLB Network and RSNs (fee).
- Trials: DIRECTV STREAM 5 days; Fubo usually 5 to 7; YouTube TV varies; Amazon Prime 30 days (new members); none for Netflix, Peacock, Sling.
MLB broadcast rights and viewing restrictions
- ESPN gave up Sunday Night Baseball for a 30-game midweek package, sells MLB.TV, and runs in-market streams for the Padres, Guardians, Mariners, Twins, Diamondbacks, and Rockies.
- NBC and Peacock took Sunday nights, Sunday Leadoff, the Wild Card round, the Draft, and the Futures Game. Netflix bought Opening Night, the Home Run Derby, the Field of Dreams game, and WBC games from Japan.
- FOX kept Saturdays, the All-Star Game, and the World Series; TBS kept Tuesday nights and its postseason share.
- In-market fans need the RSN or, for 20 clubs, an in-market subscription sold through MLB and ESPN (separate from MLB.TV).
- MLB Network: Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM carry it; Sling via Sports Extra; not on YouTube TV; Hulu + Live TV unconfirmed; MLB.TV subscribers get a stream in the ESPN app.
Live TV bundles vs. streaming-only subscriptions
- DIRECTV STREAM is the only live TV service in our research with FOX, FS1, TBS, NBC, ESPN, and MLB Network, plus RSNs on Choice and up.
- YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV cover the national networks but not MLB Network. Fubo misses TBS. Sling needs Orange plus Blue, with locals in select markets.
- Peacock Premium is the cheapest route to Sunday Night Baseball and the Wild Card Series; Netflix is required for its events; ESPN Unlimited carries the 30 midweek games and is the MLB.TV storefront.
- Prime Video matters only as a FanDuel Sports Network storefront; HBO Max carries TBS games but is not ranked. See sports streaming considerations.
Local, out-of-market, and blackout rules
- MLB.TV is sold through ESPN with a reduced rate for ESPN Unlimited subscribers; prices change annually, so confirm with ESPN. Blacks out in-market games and exclusives on FOX, TBS, NBC, Peacock, ESPN, Netflix, and Apple TV. YouTube TV sells it as an add-on.
- Twenty clubs offer in-market streaming through MLB and ESPN (ESPN holds six directly); it may replace an RSN-carrying live TV service.
- RSNs: Fubo (FanDuel and NBC Sports, fee on Pro); DIRECTV STREAM (Choice and up, not MySports; fee language conflicts across sources); YouTube TV (NBC Sports only); Sling (none); FanDuel via Prime Video Channels in select markets.
- Apple TV's Friday Night Baseball has no local blackouts.
Pricing comparison
Lowest recurring monthly price, verified Oct 12, 2026. DIRECTV STREAM's MLB Network and RSNs are on Choice, Fubo's RSNs carry a fee, and Sling needs Orange, Blue, and Sports Extra for full coverage.
| Service | Starting price | MLB coverage from our research |
|---|---|---|
| DIRECTV STREAM | $74.99/mo | FOX, FS1, TBS, NBC, ESPN, MLB Network (Choice), RSNs (Choice and up) |
| Fubo | $55.99/mo | FOX, FS1, NBC, ESPN, MLB Network, RSNs; no TBS |
| YouTube TV | $82.99/mo | FOX, FS1, TBS, NBC, ESPN; MLB.TV add-on; no MLB Network |
| Hulu + Live TV | $99.99/mo | FOX, FS1, TBS, NBC, ESPN; MLB Network unconfirmed |
| Sling TV | $45.99/mo | FOX and FS1 (Blue), TBS, ESPN (Orange); MLB Network via Sports Extra |
| Peacock | $8.99/mo | Sunday Night Baseball, Sunday Leadoff, Wild Card Series (Premium) |
| Netflix | $8.99/mo | Opening Night, Home Run Derby, Field of Dreams, WBC Japan |
| Prime Video | $8.99/mo | FanDuel Sports Network add-on in select markets only |
Sort by price on the comparison page; see cheapest live TV options if budget comes first.
Compatible devices
- All services support Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV, Samsung and LG TVs, mobile, and browsers.
- No PlayStation app for Sling TV, Fubo, or DIRECTV STREAM; DIRECTV STREAM also lacks Xbox.
- Fubo offers select games in 4K; YouTube TV's 4K needs an add-on. See device compatibility.
Provider comparisons for baseball fans
- DIRECTV STREAM: most RSNs with ESPN and TBS; unlimited DVR and home streams; five-day trial. Cons: most expensive, fee on Choice and up; 4K limited. Review.
- Fubo: strongest RSN lineup; up to ten home streams; select 4K. Cons: no TBS; regional sports fee; repeated plan and price changes. Review.
- YouTube TV: FOX, FS1, TBS, NBC, ESPN; unlimited DVR; MLB.TV add-on. Cons: no MLB Network; few RSNs; $82.99/mo after intro. Review.
- Hulu + Live TV: national networks plus Hulu, Disney+, ESPN Select; unlimited DVR. Cons: two streams; MLB Network unconfirmed; pricey. Review.
- Sling TV: lowest base price; TBS on both plans. Cons: ESPN and FS1 on different plans; locals select markets; MLB Network add-on; 50 hours DVR. Review.
- Peacock, Netflix, Prime Video: Peacock for SNB and the Wild Card Series; Netflix for special events only; Prime Video as a FanDuel storefront. No standard trial except the 30-day Amazon Prime trial. Reviews: Peacock, Netflix, Prime Video.
MLB streaming FAQ
Is Sunday Night Baseball still on ESPN?
No. From 2026 it airs on NBC and streams on Peacock; ESPN carries a 30-game midweek package instead.
Which service has MLB Network?
Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM (Choice and MySports), and Sling via Sports Extra. YouTube TV dropped it in 2023; Hulu + Live TV is unconfirmed. MLB.TV subscribers get a stream in the ESPN app.
Will MLB.TV show my local team?
No. Use your RSN, an in-market subscription (20 clubs, via MLB and ESPN), or a live TV service that carries the RSN.
Can I watch the whole postseason on one service?
Only DIRECTV STREAM among ranked services carries FOX, FS1, TBS, and NBC together. The Wild Card Series also streams on Peacock; Fubo misses the TBS series.
Does Netflix show regular MLB games?
No. Netflix has Opening Night, the Home Run Derby, the Field of Dreams game, and WBC games from Japan under its 2026-28 deal.
Methodology and sources
Rights facts come from docs/research/channel-sports-availability.md and carriage.json, verified Oct 12, 2026; prices render from our dated evidence store. Sources: mlb.com (2026-28 media-rights press release and in-market streaming for 20 clubs), thedesk.net (YouTube TV drops MLB Network; FanDuel Sports Network on Prime Video), cloudwards.net (Hulu + Live TV lineup), tvguide.com (Sling and Fubo lineups), compareinternethub.com (DIRECTV STREAM), cordcuttersnews.com (MLB.TV via ESPN), awfulannouncing.com (MLB TV deals 2026), apple.com newsroom (Friday Night Baseball), and apps.apple.com (Fubo channel listing). Sports rights change; claims on this page expire on January 10, 2027 and are re-verified before republishing. Ordering follows How We Rank with coverage breadth applied first.
We are an independent publisher, not affiliated with MLB, any network, or any streaming service. Editorial policy.
We may earn commissions from providers featured here. Compensation can affect placement. Affiliate Disclosure