How to Watch Detroit Tigers Games Live

By Jim Kimble / Updated March 6, 2023

There are a number of ways to watch Detroit Tigers games live without a cable TV or satellite package during the 2023 season.

But watching home games requires a subscription to a live TV streaming service that carries Bally Sports Detroit.

Nationally televised games during the regular season in 2023 are on FOX, ESPN, FS1, TBS and MLB Network. A few post-season games air on ABC.

How to watch Detroit Tigers Games Live

The Detroit Tigers broadcast most of their games on Bally Sports Detroit. The regional sports network (formerly known as FOX Sports Detroit) has exclusive rights to in-market Detroit Tigers games.

Bally Sports Detroit is currently on three live TV streaming services, Bally Sports+, DIRECTV STREAM and fuboTV. Bally Sports+ has a 7-day free trial. DIRECTV STREAM has a 5-day free trial. Fubo has a 7-day free trial.

You can watch every home game this season on DIRECTV STREAM and fuboTV if you live in the broadcast area of Bally Sports Detroit. National broadcast games are on ESPN, FOX, FS1, and TNT.

Bally Sports Detroit is available to pay TV subscribers in four states.

Michigan, Northeastern Indiana, Northwest Ohio and Northeast Wisconsin are all within the home broadcast area.

Streaming ServiceBally Sports DetroitESPN/FOX/FS1/TBS
DIRECTV STREAMYesYes
fuboTVYesNo TBS
Hulu Live TVNoYes
Sling TVNoYes
YouTube TVNoYes

Apple TV+ is streaming two live baseball games on Friday nights during the 2023 Major League Baseball season. The Friday night games are free, and part of the National Broadcast schedule. 

NBC’s Peacock is streaming exclusive Sunday morning games, but requires a subscription.

You can watch these games on any Smart TV or streaming device that supports the two streaming apps.

Cord-cutters can watch some national broadcast games for free using a TV antenna. 

How to Stream Detroit Tigers Games

Watching live Detroit Tigers games without cable TV is pretty simple. You just need a few things to start streaming MLB games on your TV.

  1. A streaming service that carries Bally Sports Detroit and the channels that carry national broadcast games
  2. A Smart TV or streaming device such as a Roku connected to your TV

You can watch live TV channels through the app of streaming services such as DIRECTV STREAM. Live TV streaming services have apps for Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast with Google TV.

These apps are available on Smart TVs, iPhones/iPads (iOS), and Android smartphones. You can watch live TV on a PC through a web browser. Gamers can watch on Xbox and PlayStation game consoles. 

MLB Detroit Tigers
(photo credit: The Cord Cutting Report)

DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) has every channel needed to watch Detroit Tigers games in 2023.

A subscription to the Choice package costs $99.99 per month for 105 channels. 

Bally Sports Detroit, ESPN, MLB Network, FS1, and local channels such as FOX, NBC, ABC, and CBS are included in the Choice lineup.

Subscribers can get three months of HBO Max, Showtime, Cinemax and EPIX for free before the monthly rates kick in. You can watch live TV on up to 20 screens at once.

You can sign up for a free 5-day trial without any obligations.

Every plan includes unlimited Cloud DVR and a robust library of on-demand movies and shows. There are no contracts. There are no additional regional sports fees.

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 making any decisions.

fubo TV

fuboTV has more than 152 channels in its Pro plan, including Bally Sports Detroit. This option was not available to Tigers fans last season. 

The Pro plan has a large roster of regional networks and national sports channels for MLB and NBA fans. Bally Sports, AT&T SportsNet and NESN are available to in-market subscribers. 

Pro plan subscribers get ESPN Networks, FS1, FOX, NBA TVNFL NetworkACC Network and Big Ten Network.

A subscription costs $74.99 per month. You can watch TV or on-demand content on 10 screens at once. fuboTV adds a regional sports fee. It costs $10.99 per month for one regional network. It’s $13.99 per month if you have two RSNs in your area. 

You should look over the channel lineup for your area before signing up.

fuboTV has entertainment channels, including Discovery, Paramount Network, USA Network and Hallmark Channel. Subscribers get 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR for recordings, so you can watch replays of games whenever you like. 

Elite and Premier subscribers can live stream Detroit Tigers games on FS1 and FOX in upscaled 4K when they are available. There’s a huge on-demand library of movies and TV shows for when you don’t need live TV.

fuboTV works on Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV (tvOS) and Android TV. Samsung Smart TVs, Vizio SmartCast TVs, Hisense, and TVs running Google TV or Android TV are supported. Gamers can watch fubo on Xbox game consoles. 

You can get a 7-day free trial. There are no contracts or obligations. 

Bally Sports+

Bally Sports+ is a new streaming service that offers live home games for the Detroit Tigers. 

MLB fans will be able to watch games that are offered on Bally Sports Detroit. 

According to ballysports.com, the service has rights to stream games from the Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays. 

The service does give you access to TV channels such as ESPN that air national broadcast games, but it’s a great budget option for people wanting access to home games. 

Bally Sports+ costs $19.99 per month, or $189.99 per year following a 7-day free trial

If you have satellite or cable TV service, you can still use your account credentials to activate the Bally Sports app. 

MLB.tv (Out-of-Market)

MLB.tv live streams all out-of-market games for every team.

Detroit Tigers games are blacked out for fans living in the team’s home broadcast region. The service allows subscribers who live in an out-of-market area to watch games.

A subscription to MLB.tv costs $24.99 per month. Amazon Prime members can get a free 7-day trial of MLB.tv through Amazon Channels. The regular rate kicks in once the trial ends.

Apple TV+

Apple TV+ is delivering two weekly Friday night games during the 2023 MLB season.

The first leg of MLB games will be free to anyone with internet access, according to Apple. The New York Post reported Apple TV’s schedule of games that begin on April 7.

DATETIME (ET)GAME
April 72:20 p.m.Rangers at Cubs
April 77:20 p.m.Padres at Braves
April 146:40 p.m.Giants at Tigers
April 147:10 p.m.Angels at Red Sox
April 217:05 p.m.Blue Jays at Yankees
April 217:20 p.m.Astros at Braves
April 288:10 p.m.Phillies at Astros
April 2810:10 p.m.Cardinals at Dodgers
May 56:40 p.m.White Sox at Reds
May 57:10 p.m.Twins at Guardians
May 128:10 p.m.Royals at Brewers
May 128:10 p.m.Cubs at Twins
May 197:07 p.m.Orioles at Blue Jays
May 197:20 p.m.Mariners at Braves
May 267:05 p.m.Padres at Yankees
May 267:10 p.m.White Sox at Tigers
June 25:10 p.m.Brewers at Reds
June 28:10 p.m.Guardians at Twins
June 97:05 p.m.Royals at Orioles
June 99:38 p.m.Mariners at Angels
June 168:10 p.m.Pirates at Brewers
June 1610:10 p.m.White Sox at Mariners
June 236:40 p.m.Pirates at Marlins
June 237:05 p.m.Mets at Phillies
June 237:05 p.m.Brewers at Pirates
June 309:38 p.m.Diamondbacks at Angels

Apple TV+ works on most major streaming devices, including Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast with Google TV. Smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, Vizio, Panasonic and Hisense are also supported.

Peacock

Peacock begins streaming Sunday morning MLB games on April 23.

Games will be available on the Premium plan. Peacock Premium costs $4.99 per month. There is a free 7-day trial for Peacock Premium.

DATETIME (ET)GAME
April 2312:05 p.m.Colorado Rockies at Philadelphia Phillies
April 3012:05 p.m.Chicago Cubs at Miami Marlins
May 711:35 a.m.Baltimore Orioles at Atlanta Braves
May 1411:35 a.m.Los Angeles Angels at Cleveland Guardians
May 2111:35 a.m.New York Yankees at Cincinnati Reds
May 2811:35 a.m.Los Angeles Dodgers at Tampa Bay Rays
June 411:35 a.m.St. Louis Cardinals at Pittsburgh Pirates
June 1111:35 a.m.Arizona Diamondbacks at Detroit Tigers
June 181:05 p.m.Baltimore Orioles at Chicago Cubs
July 212:05 p.m.Minnesota Twins at Baltimore Orioles
July 912:05 p.m.Texas Rangers at Washington Nationals
July 1612:05 p.m.San Francisco Giants at Pittsburgh Pirates
July 2312:05 p.m.San Diego Padres at Detroit Tigers
July 3012:05 p.m.Los Angeles Angels at Toronto Blue Jays
August 612:05 p.m.Chicago White Sox at Cleveland Guardians
August 1312:05 p.m.Detroit Tigers at Boston Red Sox
August 201:05 p.m.Seattle Mariners at Houston Astros
August 2712:05 p.m.Los Angeles Angels at New York Mets
September 31:05 p.m.Philadelphia Phillies at Milwaukee Brewers

Peacock works on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Roku. The service has apps for a wide variety of Android TV-enabled Smart TVs, including Sony. Smart TVs by LG, Samsung, Vizio and Hisense are supported as well.

You can sign up for a free 7-day trial for Peacock Premium.

ESPN+

ESPN+ is streaming one live MLB game per day that is part of the national broadcast schedule.

Out-of-market games are still governed by local blackout restrictions. 

live-mlb-games
ESPN+ has daily MLB games. (photo credit: Jim Kimble / The Cord Cutting Report)

You will need your local regional sports channel to watch home games.

Replays are made available after a live game streams on ESPN+. A subscription to ESPN+ costs $9.99 per month.

How to Watch Tigers games free with a TV antenna

A TV antenna is the best way to watch Detroit Tigers games that are carried on ABC and FOX for free.

If you have a TV antenna handy, but haven’t used it in a while, plug it into your television’s coax port and scan for channels. FOX broadcasts games throughout the regular season. ABC becomes a key channel for post-season games.

If you are new to TV antennas, here is a list of resources that I have written to get you started.

How to Watch Detroit Tigers FAQ

These are questions readers ask when searching for ways to watch or stream Detroit Tigers games without a pay TV provider.   

How can I watch the Detroit Tigers game?

Bally Sports+, DIRECTV STREAM and fuboTV carry Detroit Tigers games that air on Bally Sports Detroit. 

Bally Sports+ has a 7-day free trial, and costs $19.99 per month. The service works on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, XBox game consoles, Samsung Smart TVs, and Smart TVs operating on Android TV.

DIRECTV STREAM has the network in the Choice package. The Choice plan has 105 live TV channels including ESPN, and a number of other regional sports networks. You can sign up for a free 5-day trial without any obligation.

fuboTV carries BS South in the Pro plan, which has 152 channels and key MLB channels, including ESPN, FS1 and local FOX stations. There is a 7-day free trial without any obligations.

Can I watch the Detroit Tigers on YouTube TV?

YouTube TV does not carry Bally Sports Detroit. But YouTube TV does have local FOX stations, FS1, ESPN and TBS. Those channels air nationally televised games. A subscription costs $64.99 per month, includes unlimited Cloud DVR and a free trial that lasts 7 days. 

Can I watch the Detroit Tigers on Hulu?

Hulu Live TV has ESPN, FS1, TBS and local FOX channels that carry out-of-market games. But Hulu’s live TV plan does not carry Bally Sports Detroit, which has home games for the Detroit Tigers. A subscription includes 75 live TV channels, and unlimited Cloud DVR for $69.99 per month. 

Are Detroit Tigers games on Bally Sports Plus?

Bally Sports+ is a new streaming service that has the rights to stream Detroit Tigers games live without a cable subscription.

According to ballysports.com, the service currently has rights to stream games from the Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays. 

Bally Sports+ costs $19.99 per month, or $189.99 per year following a 7-day free trial. MLB fans will live games, highlights and on-demand programming. 

How can I watch Tigers games without Bally Sports?

Even without Bally Sports Detroit, you can watch Detroit Tigers games on DIRECTV STREAM and fuboTV. There are games on ESPN, FS1, FOX, and TBS. Apple TV+ and Peacock will also stream weekend games. 

Can I watch the Tigers games on Sling TV?

Sling Orange subscribers can watch the Tigers when games are on ESPN and TBS. FS1 is on the Sling Blue plan. Sling TV does not carry any regional sports networks. 

Local FOX stations are in a limited number of markets. If you live in or around one of these cities, then you should be able to watch the Tigers when games are on local FOX stations: 

  1. Atlanta
  2. Austin
  3. Chicago
  4. Dallas/Fort Worth
  5. Detroit
  6. Gainesville
  7. Houston
  8. Los Angeles
  9. Milwaukee
  10. Minneapolis/St. Paul
  11. New York
  12. Orlando/Daytona/Melbourne
  13. Philadelphia
  14. Phoenix
  15. San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose
  16. Seattle
  17. Tampa/St. Petersburg
  18. Washington, DC

What channel is the Detroit Tigers game on tonight?

Detroit Tigers games are typically on Bally Sports Detroit. The schedule below breaks down what channel or streaming service has national broadcast games for the 2023 MLB season.

DAYTigers MLB NATIONAL BROADCAST SCHEDULE
Sunday morningPeacock
Sunday afternoonTBS
Sunday nightESPN or ESPN2
Monday nightESPN or FS1
Tuesday nightTBS
Wednesday NightESPN, FS1, MLB Network
Thursday NightESPN, FOX and MLB Network
Friday NightApple TV+
Saturday AfternoonFOX
Saturday NightFOX, FS1

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.

Note: This article was originally published on March 23, 2022. It has been updated to reflect new streaming options, prices and updated schedules.

Jim 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.