The Ultimate Guide to Streaming MLB Games in 2025 – All Free and Paid Options
MLB Opening Day is here and there are more options than ever to watch baseball without a cable subscription. It may seem confusing, but we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to catch as many games as possible en route to the World Series!
Streaming Nationally Televised MLB Games
No matter where you live, you can stream several nationally televised MLB games. Those games will appear on FOX, MLB Network, Fox Sports 1, ESPN, and TBS.
The only two services to offer all of these channels are DIRECTV STREAM and Sling TV.
Apple TV+ offers nationally televised games on Friday nights. Start watching with a 7-day free trial.
$9.99/mo.
How to Watch MLB Games for Free
MLB.TV offers a free game of the day for everyone. You’ll need an account, but you don’t have to pay.
Almost all smart TVs and streaming devices can access The Roku Channel. That service provides free games with MLB Sunday Leadoff.
If you subscribe to T-Mobile, you get MLB.TV for free. Activate this benefit March 25-31.
Choosing Free Trials for Short-Term MLB Access
Another option is to sign up for free trials to services that offer live MLB broadcasts. DIRECTV STREAM offers a 5-day free trial, Fubo offers a free trial, though it’s only 1 day at the time of publication (most of the year, it’s 7 days). Hulu + Live TV offers a 3-day free trial. YouTube TV gives a 5-day free trial. Apple TV+ offers a 7-day free trial.
Yankees fans in the New York area can watch 21 games with Prime Video, which offers a 30-day free trial.
It’s worth trying several different streamers for free to see which is worth paying for. (I like DIRECTV STREAM, but you may prefer another option.)
Regional Sports Networks and Regional MLB Streamers
If you live in the viewing area of your favorite team, you’re in luck! You’ll have access to a regional broadcast to see more games when your team plays at home. In almost every case, DIRECTV STREAM is the smartest option with the most baseball for your buck.
If you don’t want any channels outside the regional sports network, most teams offer a standalone streamer. The three teams that do not have a standalone streamer in 2025 are the Orioles, Astros, and Nationals. For those, you’ll need a live TV streaming service.
Important: If you are in the Braves or Reds viewing area, sign up through Prime Video and get the full season for $74.99 (25% off). Grab this deal before it expires.
Braves/Reds
$99.99/season
$74.99/season
All other FanDuel team season packages are up to 15% off. Lock in your price before September 29.
| Team | Regional Sports Network | RSN Providers | Standalone Streamer | Standalone Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Diamondbacks | Dbacks.TV | DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo | Dbacks.TV | $19.99/month or $99.99/year |
| Atlanta Braves | FanDuel Sports South, FanDuel Sports Southeast | DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo | FanDuel Sports Network | $19.99/month or $74.99/$99.99/season |
| Baltimore Orioles | MASN | DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo | None | |
| Boston Red Sox | NESN | DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo | NESN 360 | $29.99/month or $239.99/year |
| Chicago Cubs | Marquee Sports Network | DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo | Marquee Sports Network app | $19.99/month |
| Chicago White Sox | Chicago Sports Network | DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo | Chicago Sports Network app | $19.99/month |
| Cincinnati Reds | FanDuel Sports Ohio | DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo | FanDuel Sports Network | $19.99/month or $74.99/season |
| Cleveland Guardians | CleGuardians.TV | DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo | CleGuardians.TV | $19.99/month or $99.99/year |
| Colorado Rockies | Rockies.TV | DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo | Rockies.TV | $19.99/month or $99.99/year |
| Detroit Tigers | FanDuel Sports Detroit | DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo | FanDuel Sports Network | $19.99/month or $99.99/season |
| Houston Astros | Space City Home Network | DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo | None | |
| Kansas City Royals | FanDuel Sports Kansas City | DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo | FanDuel Sports Network | $19.99/month or $99.99/season |
| Los Angeles Angels | FanDuel Sports West | DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo | FanDuel Sports Network | $19.99/month or $99.99/season |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | SportsNet LA | DIRECTV STREAM | SNLA+ | $29.99/month or $199.99/year |
| Miami Marlins | FanDuel Sports Florida | DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo | FanDuel Sports Network | $19.99/month or $99.99/season |
| Milwaukee Brewers | FanDuel Sports Wisconsin | DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo | FanDuel Sports Network | $19.99/month or $99.99/season |
| Minnesota Twins | DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo | Twins.TV | $19.99/month or $99.99/year | |
| New York Mets | SNY | DIRECTV STREAM, Hulu + Live TV | SNY via MLB app | $24.99/month or $124.99/season |
| New York Yankees | YES, Prime Video | DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo | Gotham Sports App and Prime Video | $24.99/month or $239.99/year; Prime Video is $8.99/month |
| Athletics | NBC Sports California | DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV | Athletics.TV | $19.99/month |
| Philadelphia Phillies | NBC Sports Philadelphia | Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV | Phillies.TV | $24.99/month |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | SportsNet Pittsburgh | DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo | SNP 360 | $21.99/month or $99.99 for 6 months |
| San Diego Padres | Padres.TV | DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo | Padres.TV | $19.99/month or $99.99/year |
| San Francisco Giants | NBC Sports Bay Area | DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV | Giants.TV | $19.99/month |
| Seattle Mariners | ROOT SPORTS | DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo | Root Sports Stream | $19.99/month |
| St. Louis Cardinals | FanDuel Sports Midwest | DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo | FanDuel Sports Network | $19.99/month or $99.99/season |
| Tampa Bay Rays | FanDuel Sports Sun | DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo | FanDuel Sports Network | $19.99/month or $99.99/season |
| Texas Rangers | Rangers Sports Network | DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo | Victory+ | $100/season until March 31, then $140/season |
| Toronto Blue Jays | Sportsnet ONE | (Canada) | ||
| Washington Nationals | MASN | DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo | None |
The Complicated Streaming Situation for the New York Yankees
If you want to watch the Bronx Bombers, most games will be available with the Gotham Sports App, but 21 games air exclusively on Prime Video.
As long as you have Prime Video and live in New York state, Connecticut, north and central New Jersey, and northeast Pennsylvania, you’ll be able to stream all 21 Yankees games for free. These games include showdowns with seven teams that participated in the MLB postseason, such as the Baltimore Orioles, the Cleveland Guardians, the Detroit Tigers, and the Houston Astros.
The first Yankees Prime Video exclusive is April 2 against the Diamondbacks. The final exclusive is against the Twins on September 17.
Out-of-Market MLB Streaming
If you live away from your favorite team’s home area, you’ll need MLB.TV. Start with a 7-day free trial.
Pay $29.99/month to watch every team’s out-of-market games or choose just one team and pay $129.99 for the year.
$29.99/mo.
Watching MLB with an Antenna
Several MLB teams are offering free games over the air. An antenna will likely unlock your local FOX affiliate at the very least.
Notably, the Brewers will offer some games on WITI FOX-6, the Mets will air some games on WPIX-TV (Channel 11), and the Cardinals will be an option on KMOV and Matrix Midwest.
The Rangers are the easiest team to watch with an antenna – its partners include KDAF-TV (CW33), KCWX-TV, and KQCW-TV.
The Rockies will simulcast 20 games on KTVD-20.
The Diamondbacks will offer 10 games on KPNX-12.
The Padres have 10 games available on KFMB-8.
White Sox home games are available on Chicago Sports Network over-the-air.
Need an antenna? Here’s one we recommend at a 49% discount thanks to Amazon’s Big Spring Sale.
Watching MLB with DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM is your best bet for watching MLB games.
It has FOX, Fox Sports 1, ESPN, TBS, and MLB Network. It offers all of these channels with the MySports package ($69.99). You can add most regional sports networks to this package with the MyHome Team add-on for $19.99.
A better option is to choose the Choice package, which offers every regional sports network except NBC Sports Philadelphia. Sign up today and you’ll get $25 off each month for the first 3 months, making the total just $89.99.
You also get 3 free months of Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, STARZ, MGM+, and Cinemax when you choose the Choice plan. It’s easily your best bet as a baseball fan.
Watching MLB with Fubo
Fubo offers FOX, Fox Sports 1, and ESPN. Fubo does not have TBS.
You can see MLB Network with the Elite package. Another option is to choose the $9.99 Sports Lite add-on or the $10.99 Sports Plus add-on. Sports Plus adds MLB Strike Zone.
Fubo includes regional sports networks for every MLB team except the Dodgers, Mets, and Blue Jays.
Watching MLB with Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV offers FOX, Fox Sports 1, ESPN, and TBS. It does not have MLB Network. You can see MLB Strike Zone as part of its $9.99 Sports Add-on package.
For MLB regional sports channels, Hulu + Live TV only offers SNY (Mets), NBC Sports Bay Area (Giants), NBC Sports California (Athletics), and NBC Sports Philadelphia (Phillies).
Watching MLB with Sling TV
Sling’s Orange + Blue plan offers ESPN, TBS, Fox Sports 1, and FOX. There is a limit on FOX, however.
With Sling TV, FOX is only available in areas near Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Gainesville, Houston, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Orlando/Daytona/Melbourne, Phoenix, Tampa/St. Petersburg, and Washington, D.C. and San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose.
MLB Network and MLB Strike Zone are available as part of the $15 Sports Extra add-on.
Sling does not offer regional sports networks.
Watching MLB with YouTube TV
YouTube TV has FOX, Fox Sports 1, ESPN, and TBS. It does not have MLB Network.
For MLB regional sports channels, YouTube TV only provides NBC Sports Bay Area (Giants), NBC Sports California (Athletics), and NBC Sports Philadelphia (Phillies).
Watching MLB with Peacock
New for 2025, Peacock offers the option to add your regional sports channel as long as you live in the viewing area for the Giants, Athletic, and Phillies. You’ll need a standard Peacock subscription ($7.99/mo.) to access this option.
- NBC Sports Bay Area: $17.95/mo.
- NBC Sports California: $17.95/mo.
- NBC Sports Philadelphia: $24.95/mo.
Why Choose a Streaming Service for MLB?
Streaming is usually significantly cheaper than cable. You’ll also have greater channel flexibility so you only pay for what you want.
Importantly, there’s no contract with streaming! Sign up for one month or quit before your free trial expires. There’s no downside.
You also don’t need special cable boxes to stream baseball. You can watch with your smart TV, streaming device, phone, tablet, or computer. It’s ultimate flexibility at a better price.
Conclusion
For most baseball fans, a combination of DIRECTV STREAM, The Roku Channel, and Apple TV+ is the easiest way to watch baseball.
For die-hards who want maximum baseball or who live away from their favorite teams, MLB.TV is the perfect solution.
Got any other clever ideas to stream baseball that we may have missed? Let us know in the comments!
