The Cord Cutting Report

How to Watch MLB Network Live Without Cable

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Finding a live TV service that streams MLB Network isn’t that hard. 

And it’s not that expensive if you take advantage of free trials or discounts offered by live TV streaming services. 

Here are all the ways cord-cutting baseball fans can watch the MLB playoffs on MLB Network without cable.

Table of Contents

How to Watch and Stream All MLB playoffs

MLB Network will carry some pivotal matchups during the playoffs between the White Sox and Astros, and the Rays vs Red Sox.

Sling TV is the best deal because you can get your first month of service for $10 (about 33 cents per day). You can sign up for the Sling Blue plan along with the Sports Extra bundle for $46 per month.

This combination will give you just about all the channels you need to watch the MLB playoffs and World Series. Sling Blue carries local FOX stations in a small number of markets, but might be available for free using a TV antenna. (See below.)

As you peruse live-TV packages, you will likely want a streaming bundle with all the channels carrying the MLB playoffs. The 2021 MLB playoff schedule is shared by five networks. But once the wildcard games are over, you will only need MLB Network, FS1, TBS and local FOX stations.

Youtube TV

YouTube TV costs $64.99 per month, and has all the channels you’ll need for postseason baseball. We’re talking ESPN, MLB Network, FS1, TBS and FOX. There is unlimited Cloud DVR and 85+ channels.

YouTube TV works Smart TVs, Fire TV devices and Android TV devices such as Google Chromecast with Google TV. If you’re using a Roku, then you will have to access YouTube TV through the YouTube app. There is a 7-day free trial offered to new customers.

Sling TV

Sling TV is your cheapest way to watch MLB Network without a cable subscription.

While the Sling Orange plan does have ESPN, you won’t need it for the playoffs. 

But the Sling Blue bundle has TBS, FS1, and a limited number of local FOX stations. Sports Extra costs $11 more per month, and adds about 12 more channels.  

When you sign up for a subscription, you’ll pay $10 for the first month of service.

If you want ESPN and FS1, you can subscribe to Sling Orange and Blue for $50 per month. (Thanks to a recent promo, you will pay only $20 for the first month.) 

All subscribers get 50 hours of Cloud DVR. You can look over the map below to see if local FOX stations are available in your area.

With Sling TV, you can stream MLB Network live on Smart TVs, Roku, Fire Stick, Apple TV, smart phones, Android TV software, AirTV Player, Google Chromecast, and Xbox. 

Sling TV will give you a free streaming device if you prepay for two months of service. There are no contracts, and you can easily cancel online whenever you want.

DIRECTV Stream

DIRECTV Stream has MLB Network in the Choice plan.

A subscription costs $84.99 per month for 90+ channels. ESPN, FOX and FS1 are included in a cheaper channel lineup that costs only $70 per month. But you’ll need to upgrade to the Choice plan for MLB Network. 

Choice plan subscribers get three months of HBO Max free before the $14.99-per-month rate kicks in. You get 20 hours of Cloud DVR and 50,000 on-demand movies and shows with any DIRECTV Stream package.

When you sign up, you can subscribe month to month and cancel whenever you want. DIRECTV STREAM works on Roku, Android TV, Fire TV devices, Apple TV and smartphones and tablets. 

You can look over the different channel lineups before deciding whether to sign up.

Hulu Plus Live TV

Hulu + Live TV does not carry MLB Network. The live TV service has 75+ channels including ESPN, FS1, TBS and local FOX stations which are key for MLB playoff games.

So if you’re not interested in the AL Division series, you might want to consider Hulu’s live TV package. Subscribers get 50 hours of Cloud DVR.

You can watch live TV on two screens at once. And you have unlimited access to Hulu’s on-demand library, including original shows such as “Dopesick.”

Hulu + Live TV has a free 7-day trial, and you get $10 off the first three months of a monthly subscription.

fuboTV

fuboTV has comprehensive coverage of MLB games including local FOX channels, ESPN, FS1 and MLB Network.

Subscribers get 117 channels, 250 hours of Cloud DVR, and an on-demand library of sporting events that aired in the last 72 hours. The Starter bundle costs $64.99 per month. 

MLB Network is included in the Extra bundle, which costs another $7.99 per month. 

FS1, FS2, Big Ten Network, NFL Network, NBA TV and beIN SPORTS are part of the entry-level channel lineup too.

Note: TBS is not included in the channel lineup, and you will need that channel if you want to see the National League playoffs.

Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and Android TV devices like Google Chromecast all have fuboTV apps.

You can sign up for a free 7-day trial without any obligations.

Watch MLB games on FOX free with a TV antenna

The easiest way for price-savvy baseball fans to get free local channels is with a TV antenna. A few American League games will be broadcast on FOX along with the World Series. 

Checking to see if you’re close to broadcast towers is easy. Head over to the Antennas Direct Transmitter Locator tool. Punch in your zip code or address and push the “View Channels” button.

You’ll get a channel listing and even some suggestions for TV antennas based on your zip code. 

Using a TV antenna isn’t that complex. But choosing a well-made one that will maximize your channel lineup can be challenging because of companies that over-promise what they can do. 

Here are a number of resources that I have assembled over the years based on my own hands-on testing. 

MLB.TV

With a MLB.TV subscription, you can watch every playoff game during the 2021 season. The only caveat is that you can’t watch games live without a TV provider. Even if you do have a cable subscription, you will be subject to local blackouts anyway.

Subscribers can stream MLB games 90 minutes after a game ends. MLB.TV is currently offering a postseason package for $24.99 after a free 7-day trial.

You can also sign up for the same free trial and package through MLB.TV on Amazon Prime.

What’s the best way to watch MLB Network without cable?

Sling TV is the cheapest way to start streaming MLB Network without a cable subscription. A subscription with the Sling Blue and Sports Extra plan costs $46 per month.

But thanks to a recent promo, you can pay only $10 for the first month of service when you sign up. Sling is definitely the best deal if you are already getting FOX with a TV antenna.

There are no contracts or obligations. Sling TV will give you a free streaming device if you prepay for two months of service.

For more news on streaming, how-to guides and reviews, head over to the main page of The Cord Cutting Report or follow the CCR on Google News.

Filed Under: Channels

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