Watch St. Louis Cardinals Games Live in 2024 Without Cable

Published on: April 6, 2024

Wondering how to watch St. Louis Cardinals games live without cable? If you’re in the Cardinals’ home market, getting Bally Sports Midwest through a streaming service will let you stream home games at Busch Stadium. 

You can watch St. Louis Cardinals games live online for nationally televised matches on channels like FOX, ESPN, FS1, TBS, and MLB Network during the regular 2024 season. Also, you will be able to catch some postseason action on ABC.

How to Watch St. Louis Cardinals Games Live

Stream St. Louis Cardinals home games on Bally Sports Midwest, which is available through DIRECTV STREAM and Fubo. These services offer free trials: DIRECTV STREAM for 5 days and fubo for 7 days. If you’re in the Cardinals’ local TV market — specifically in central Missouri, Southern Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska — you can watch every home game on these platforms.

ServiceFree TrialMonthly PriceKey Channels
DIRECTV STREAMYes$108.99Bally Sports Midwest, ESPN, MLB Network, FS1
FuboYes$79.99Bally Sports Midwest, NBC, ABC, ESPN, MLB Network
Fubo EliteYes$89.994K Streaming, Regional NBC Sports, FS1, FOX
MLB.tvYes$29.99Out-of-market MLB games
ESPN+No$10.99National MLB games, occasional Cardinals games
Apple TV+Yes$9.99Friday Night Baseball, occasional Cardinals games

Note: Being in the “in-market” territory means you’re in the region where Bally Sports Midwest has the rights to broadcast the games. If you’re outside this area, you might face local blackouts, meaning you can’t watch these games due to regional broadcasting rights.

How to Stream St. Louis Cardinals Games Effectively

Streaming St. Louis Cardinals games live is easy, even if you’re new to cutting the cable cord. You’ll need a reliable internet connection, with a speed of at least 25 Mbps for smooth streaming of live sports. 

Services like DIRECTV STREAM and Fubo provide access to Bally Sports Midwest for in-market fans, along with other channels for national broadcasts.

For those interested in recording games or watching replays, Fubo offers a “lookback” feature, allowing you to watch Cardinals games and other sports events up to 72 hours after they air. This is ideal for catching up on games you missed.

When selecting a streaming service, consider the available features like DVR capabilities, the number of screens you can watch on simultaneously, and the ability to rewind live TV. These features enhance your viewing experience, making it similar to traditional cable but with more control and flexibility.

Stream St. Louis Cardinals on DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM, previously known as AT&T TV, offers ESPN, FOX, and FS1 in its Entertainment plan for $79.99 per month. However, for St. Louis Cardinals fans wanting to watch home games, the Choice package is crucial as it includes Bally Sports Midwest. This package costs $108.99 per month and has about 105 channels.

For fans in central Missouri, DIRECTV STREAM includes local channels like FOX (KQFX-TV Channel 22) and NBC (KOMU-TV Channel 8), so you won’t miss local news and other programming. In addition to Cardinals games, the Choice plan features TNT, MLB Network, and other local channels.

You can stream Cardinals games comfortably at home with the ability to watch on unlimited screens. 

Take advantage of a 5-day free trial with DIRECTV STREAM and try any plan they offer.  There are no long-term contracts and no extra regional sports fees. Each subscription includes unlimited Cloud DVR and a wide selection of on-demand movies and TV shows.

DIRECTV STREAM is compatible with various devices like Roku, Android TV, Fire TV devices, Apple TV, and mobile devices, making it easy to watch the Cardinals from anywhere. Check out the different channel lineups to tailor your viewing experience to your sports and entertainment preferences.

directv stream local channels
(photo credit: Jim Kimble / The Cord Cutting Report)
PLANPRICECHANNELS
Entertainment$79.99/month75+
Choice$108.99/month105+
Ultimate$119.99/month140+
Premier$164.99/month150+
Device support: Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Chromecast with Google TV along with Smart TVs by Samsung, Sony Bravia

Watch St. Louis Cardinals Games Online on Fubo

Fubo, formerly known as fuboTV, boasts over 202 channels in its Pro plan, featuring Bally Sports Midwest — a fairly new addition for Cardinals fans. 

 In Nebraska, Fubo offers local channels like FOX (KFXL-TV Channel 51) and ABC (KETV-TV Channel 7). In Iowa, Cardinals supporters can access FOX (KDSM-TV Channel 17) and ABC (WOI-TV Channel 5), ensuring coverage of local and national broadcasts.

The Pro plan provides ESPN Networks, FS1, FOX, NBA TV, NFL Network, ACC Network, and the Big Ten Network. Priced at $79.99 per month, Fubo allows streaming on up to 10 screens simultaneously and includes a regional sports fee based on the number of networks in your area.

Before committing, review the channel lineup specific to your region. Fubo’s service also features entertainment networks like HGTV, Discovery, and Paramount Network. With 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR, subscribers can replay games and enjoy a vast on-demand library of content.

I’m a fan of how Fubo has sports-specific sections in its menu for upcoming MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL games. 

Elite subscribers gain access to 67 additional sports and entertainment networks, including MLB Network and CNBC. Some games on FOX, FS1 and regional NBC Sports networks are available in 4K. 

Fubo is compatible with a range of devices, including Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, and various Smart TVs, and also supports streaming on Xbox game consoles.

A 7-day free trial is available, offering flexibility with no contractual commitments.

fubotv-channels
(photo credit: Jim Kimble / The Cord Cutting Report)
PLANPRICECHANNELS
Pro$79.99/month202
Elite $89.99/month269
Device support: Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast with Google TV, Xbox One, along with Smart TVs by Hisense, Samsung, LG, Sony Bravia and VIZIO SmartCast TV. Android, iPhones and iPads with current iOS.

MLB.tv for Out-of-Market St. Louis Cardinals Fans

MLB.tv streams all out-of-market games for every MLB team. “Out-of-market” refers to viewers who live outside the geographic area where the St. Louis Cardinals broadcast their games. If you’re not in central Missouri, Southern Illinois, Iowa, or Nebraska, you’re likely out-of-market and can watch Cardinals games live on MLB.tv without blackouts.

The service costs $29.99 per month. For out-of-market Cardinals fans, this means you can follow every pitch of their games, provided you’re outside the Cardinals’ TV territory.

Amazon Prime members have a perk here. You can start with a free 7-day trial of MLB.tv through Amazon Channels. Also, Fubo subscribers can integrate MLB.tv into their existing package. After the trial, the standard monthly rate applies.

Besides these options, MLB.tv can be directly subscribed to through its website or app, offering a comprehensive way for out-of-market fans to catch all the action from the Cardinals’ season.

Apple TV+ for MLB Games and St. Louis Cardinals Showcases

Apple TV+ offers a standout feature for MLB fans: two weekly Friday night games during the 2024 season, including the St. Louis Cardinals, with no local blackout restrictions. This is a big plus for fans wanting to catch games that are often unavailable on other services.

Subscribers can watch these games for just $9.99 per month after enjoying a free 7-day trial. Apple TV+ not only brings you “Friday Night Baseball” but also a variety of original movies and TV shows.

On Friday, April 26, don’t miss the St. Louis Cardinals at New York Mets at 7 p.m. ET, featured on Apple TV+. This game is one of the many that will be accessible to fans across 60 countries and regions, ensuring you can watch marquee matchups throughout the 26-week regular season.

Apple TV+ is compatible with a broad range of devices, such as Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast with Google TV, and various Smart TVs, making it easy to stream these games wherever you are.

ESPN+ for Daily MLB Action and Cardinals Coverage

ESPN+ streams one live MLB game each day, including some St. Louis Cardinals games. However, be aware of local blackout restrictions, which will restirct the ability to watch home games in the Cardinals’ market. Fans outside the Cardinals’ immediate area can enjoy more access.

Last season, the Cardinals were featured on ESPN+ at least twice, making it a valuable service for fans looking to catch some of their games. To plan your viewing, check the MLB schedule on ESPN+ for all regular season games.

After live games, ESPN+ offers replays, so you won’t miss any action. The service costs $10.99 per month, and there’s an option to bundle with Hulu and Disney+, providing more entertainment and sports content.

live-mlb-games
ESPN+ has daily MLB games. (photo credit: Jim Kimble / The Cord Cutting Report)
PLANPRICESTREAMS
ESPN+$10.99/moHD/1080p – 3 devices
Disney Trio Basic
(with ads)
$14.99/mo.Disney+ up to 4K/Dolby Atmos
Hulu up to 4K
ESPN+ HD/1080p
Disney Trio Premium
(only ESPN+ with ads)
$24.99/mo.Disney+ up to 4K/Dolby Atmos
Hulu up to 4K
ESPN+ HD/1080p
Device support: Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Chromecast with Google TV along with Smart TVs by Samsung, VIZIO SmartCast, Sony Bravia, PlayStation, XBox, Xfinity Flex and Xumo TV.

Watch St. Louis Cardinals Games Free with a TV Antenna

Watch St. Louis Cardinals games free with a TV antenna in the official Cardinals TV market, catching live broadcasts on local channels like ABC and FOX.

In Southern Illinois, catch the games on WSIL-TV (ABC Channel 3) and KBSI-TV (FOX Channel 23). Iowa’s viewers can tune in to WOI-TV (ABC Channel 5) and KDSM-TV (FOX Channel 17), while in Nebraska, the games are on KETV-TV (ABC Channel 7) and KFXL-TV (FOX Channel 51).

These channels offer a way to enjoy Cardinals games throughout the season and into the playoffs, all for free with a TV antenna, providing a fantastic option for fans in these regions.

How to Watch St. Louis Cardinals FAQ

These questions help fans find out how to watch or stream St. Louis Cardinals games without a traditional pay TV provider.

How can I watch the St. Louis Cardinals game today?

You can watch Cardinals games live on DIRECTV STREAM and Fubo, which broadcast MLB games airing on Bally Sports Midwest. DIRECTV STREAM offers a 5-day free trial with its Choice plan, including channels like ESPN, FOX, and FS1. Fubo’s Pro plan, with a 7-day free trial, also includes these channels and local FOX stations.

Can I stream St. Louis Cardinals games on YouTube TV?

While YouTube TV doesn’t offer Bally Sports Midwest, it has channels like FOX, FS1, ESPN, and TBS for nationally televised Cardinals games. A subscription provides unlimited Cloud DVR and costs $72.99 per month after a free trial.

Is Hulu an option to watch the St. Louis Cardinals?

Hulu Live TV includes national channels like ESPN, FS1, TBS, and FOX but lacks Bally Sports Midwest for home games. The service costs $76.99 per month and comes with unlimited Cloud DVR.

Are Cardinals games available on Bally Sports Plus?

Bally Sports+ offers regional sports networks but currently lacks streaming rights for Cardinals games.

How can I watch Cardinals games without Bally Sports?

Aside from Bally Sports Midwest, Cardinals games air on channels like ESPN, FS1, FOX, and TBS. National broadcasts are also available on Apple TV+ and Peacock.

Can I watch Cardinals games on Sling TV?

Sling TV’s Orange plan features ESPN and TBS, while FS1 is in the Blue plan. However, Sling lacks regional sports networks for local Cardinals games.

What channel is the St. Louis Cardinals game on tonight?

Cardinals games usually air on Bally Sports Midwest. National broadcasts can be found 

Can I watch St. Louis Cardinals games live online for free?

While most games require a subscription service, some national broadcast games can be streamed for free with a TV antenna in the Cardinals’ local market on channels like ABC and FOX.

What’s the best way to stream St. Louis Cardinals games without cable?

The best way to stream Cardinals games without cable is through services like DIRECTV STREAM or fubo, offering comprehensive packages that include Bally Sports Midwest and national networks.

Weekly Broadcast Schedule for St. Louis Cardinals Games

Find out where to watch St. Louis Cardinals games with our comprehensive weekly broadcast schedule. This guide highlights which channel or streaming service will air the Cardinals games throughout the 2024 MLB season.

St. Louis Cardinals National Broadcast Schedule 2024:

  • Sunday Afternoon: TBS
  • Sunday Night: ESPN or ESPN2
  • Monday Night: ESPN or FS1
  • Tuesday Night: TBS
  • Wednesday Night: ESPN, FS1, MLB Network
  • Thursday Night: ESPN, FOX, and MLB Network
  • Friday Night: Apple TV+
  • Saturday Afternoon: FOX
  • Saturday Night: FOX, FS1

This schedule ensures you won’t miss any action and helps you plan how to watch or stream the St. Louis Cardinals games, whether you’re at home or on the go.

Methodology

I spend hundreds of hours throughout the year conducting hands-on testing of streaming services, including Peacock, DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Sling TV, YouTube TV, Hulu Live TV. I do the same rigorous testing for TV antennas and TV-related hardware. Check out the review policy to see how I compare products and services. The Cord Cutting Report is a reader-supported publication, and may earn affiliate commissions when you pick a streaming service through a recommendation. Read our affiliate policy for more information.

Jim Kimble is a seasoned industry expert with over two decades of journalism experience. He has been at the forefront of the cord-cutting movement since 2016, testing and writing about TV-related products and services. He founded The Cord Cutting Report in 2016, and serves as the editor.

Major publications, including MarketWatch, Forbes, and South Florida Sun Sentinel, have interviewed Kimble for his years of expertise. He gives advice on the complexities consumers are navigating with streaming options, and over-the-air TV. Kimble has been a staff writer or correspondent for several award-winning, daily newspapers, including The Boston Globe.