The 2025 Major League Baseball regular season has officially come to a close, which means that the playoffs are here. We’ve compiled everything you need to know about how to watch the MLB Playoffs, including live streaming options for those without cable.
The postseason kicks off on Tuesday, September 30, with four best-of-three Wild Card series between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians, the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, and the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers. Notably, the Dodgers (the reigning champions) and the Yankees (their 2024 World Series rivals) haven’t secured divisional league spots yet. The Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, and Toronto Blue Jays are the four teams to have clinched those spots, and they’ll make their first appearances in the next round. The Brewers and Blue Jays lead the National League and American League, respectively.
Whether you’re hoping to see an NY vs. LA rematch or you’re rooting for other teams to go all the way this year, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to learn some of the best ways to stream the postseason, including the services that could let you watch everything in one place.
What channels are the MLB Playoffs on?
The MLB postseason will be nationally broadcast across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TBS, FOX, and FS1. The Wild Card round will be broadcast across ABC and ESPN properties, and FOX, FS1, and TBS will take over for the rest of the postseason.
How to watch the MLB Playoffs in the US
If you don’t have cable and you’re looking to watch every game of the MLB postseason in one place, a month-to-month live TV streaming service such as DirecTV or Sling TV can help.
DirecTV MySports carries 20+ popular sports channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TBS, FOX, and FS1. Subscriptions cost $70 a month, but new users can get their first two months for $60 a month after a five-day free trial. MySports also unlocks access to the brand-new ESPN Unlimited streaming service.
DirecTV MySports
DirecTV’s MySports pack carries popular sports channels, from mainstays like ESPN to niche offerings like the ACC Network.
Sling TV’s Orange + Blue combo plan offers around 50 live channels, including TBS, ESPN, ESPN2, and FS1. Sling also has local channels, like FOX and ABC, available in select regions. Subscriptions for the combo plan start at $61 a month, but new users can often get half off their first month of service.
Sling Orange + Blue
Sling TV offers some of the best cable channels for $61 or less. There are three different tiers to choose from, plus several sports and entertainment-specific add-ons, but the Orange + Blue combo is the best way to get the most major sports channels. Plus, you can usually get about half off your first month.
Fubo is another comprehensive live TV streaming service with robust local channel coverage (including FOX and ABC). However, TBS is missing, so you’ll need to look elsewhere for that. Fubo’s traditional subscriptions start at $85 a month, but the streamer recently launched a sports-centric package in select markets for $56 a month. New users can get their first month for $46 after a five-day free trial.
Fubo Sports
The new Fubo Sports + News pack is only available in select areas. It combines 20+ major sports channels (including the new ESPN Unlimited) and select local networks (ABC, CBS, and FOX).
If you’re only interested in watching the Wild Card round, then ESPN Unlimited should be your cheapest streaming go-to. The streamer carries ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN on ABC content, in addition to tons of other programming. Subscriptions start at $30 a month, and it’s important to note that you’ll need the Unlimited tier (not the cheaper Select option) to watch these MLB games.
ESPN Unlimited
ESPN Unlimited has everything from ESPN Plus, in addition to all that the ESPN linear networks have to offer.
How to watch the MLB Playoffs from anywhere
Long gone are the days of missing out on a game just because you’re traveling away from home. A VPN, or virtual private network, can help you keep up with your usual streaming methods by allowing you to change the virtual location on your electronic devices. This way, your usual websites and apps work just like they would back home. The services we’ve recommended require US methods of payment, so this option will work best for Americans who are simply traveling abroad right now.
NordVPN is our top recommendation right now. It’s a fast and easy-to-navigate option with several impressive security features and a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can learn more about the app in our NordVPN review.
NordVPN Plan
NordVPN is one of the top VPN services in the business. It offers excellent value with a strong selection of features and a low monthly price. A wide selection of international servers, high-end security, fast connections, and audited privacy protection have made the brand a household name in the world of VPNs.
Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.
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