MLB Unscrambled: Everything You Need to Know About Watching Baseball in 2026

It’s Opening Day for Major League Baseball! Will anyone be able to derail the Dodgers in their quest for yet another ring? The challenge for a championship is hard, but understanding the baseball TV landscape may be even harder. Not to worry! We’re here to help.

With the 2026 season, there are 4 key factors to consider:

1. Do you want to watch nationally televised games?
2. Do you care about streaming-exclusive games?
3. Would you like to watch your local teams when they’re not on national TV?
4. If you do want to follow your local team on the road or a team from another city?

If you want the nationally televised games, you’ll need FOX, ESPN, NBC, TBS, FS1, and MLB Network.

Watching your local team will require a regional sports network (or regional streamer). Watching your local team’s away games (or a team from another city) requires MLB.TV.

Our recommendation: For most baseball fans, DIRECTV offers the best options at the best price. It doesn’t get you everything, but it comes close. It has 28 of the 29 regional sports networks and the ability to add MLB.TV for out-of-market games.

First, let’s look at the multichannel live TV options.

MLB Live TV Comparison Grid

If you don’t want a full channel package, you can cobble these channels together with individual services. It’s just more of a headache. Here’s how you can watch live baseball without a full channel package:

Regional Sports Options

For die-hard fans who want more of their team, a regional sports provider is required to get you the home games. When the team plays on the road (or if you want to follow a team from another city), you’ll need to activate MLB.TV.

One important note about MLB.TV this year: it comes with one free month of ESPN Unlimited. But you must cancel that service before your month is up or you’ll be charged $29.99. As long as you remember to opt out, it’s a nice perk.

And if you have T-Mobile, you can activate free MLB.TV as long as you take advantage before the end of March.

Now, here’s each team’s regional situation. (We left out the Blue Jays because Canada is its own thing.) We should note DIRECTV is the only provider with all of these except Philadelphia.

While the A’s wait to put down roots in Vegas, you can stream them on Athletics.TV.

Local Diamondbacks games air exclusively on DBacks.TV.

If you’re watching the Braves on linear TV, you’ll find them on an all-new channel called BravesVision.

Select games will be free over-the-air on Gray TV stations in 6 states throughout the southeast.

To watch the Orioles in-market, you’ll need MASN. You’ll find it on DIRECTV and Fubo. If you’d like the standalone option, that’s MASN+.

NESN is the home of the Red Sox. Catch it on DIRECTV or Fubo or choose the standalone streamer: NESN360.

Catch all the action from the Friendly Confines on Marquee Sports Network. The service is available on Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, and DIRECTV. You can also get it as a standalone subscription or through Prime Video.

The White Sox air their games on the Chicago Sports Network. Watch with DIRECTV, Fubo, or the standalone streamer.

The Reds have a new home this year. You’ll find them on Reds.TV.

You’ll catch the Guardians this year on CleGuardians.TV.

The Rockies continue broadcasting their games on Rockies.TV.

Having fallen out with FanDuel Sports Network, the Tigers play this year on Detroit SportsNet.

The Astros play their games on Space City Home Network. It’s on DIRECTV and Fubo. There’s a standalone option called SCHN+.

The Royals find themselves in a new home this year: Royals.TV. It’s available on DIRECTV or as a standalone option.

The Angels hit the diamond on Angels.TV this year.

Hey, Shohei doesn’t come cheap. That’s probably why Dodgers games cost so much to watch. You’ll need Spectrum SportsNet or SNLA+.

If you’re looking for Marlins games, you’ll find them on Marlins.TV.

The Brewers have a new home this season. Just head over to Brewers.TV or choose DIRECTV.

Minnesota fans won’t have FanDuel Sports Network anymore, so it’s time to head to Twins.TV.

As always, New York fans can find the Mets on SNY. The channel is available on Hulu + Live TV and DIRECTV.

While you can find the Yankees on YES, 21 games are exclusively on Prime Video for fans in the New York area. You can also choose to stream the Bronx Bombers on The Gotham Sports App. If you prefer a full channel package, go with DIRECTV or Fubo for YES.

The Phillies are the only team not on DIRECTV, but you will find them on Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV. You can also stream them on Peacock or through Phillies.TV.

Pittsburgh fans can fire up their hometown team on SportsNet Pittsburgh (DIRECTV/Fubo) or choose the streaming-only option: SNP360.

San Diego fans can stream their team on Padres.TV.

The Giants can be found on DIRECTV, Hulu + Live TV, and Peacock. But if you want to strip it down, there’s always Giants.TV.

The ROOT era has come to a close, so Seattle fans will find their team on Mariners.TV.

If you’re looking to find the Cardinals, just hit up Cardinals.TV.

Tampa fans will find their team on Rays.TV this year.

Texas fans can fire up Rangers Sports Network (DIRECTV/Fubo) or stream Victory+ to watch their favorite team.

If you live around the Beltway, you can find the Nats on Nationals.TV.

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