The 2025 MLB Playoffs begin on Tuesday, September 30, and culminate with the 121st edition of the World Series, which starts Friday, October 24. You can watch playoff games on popular baseball channels from ESPN, FOX Sports, and TNT Sports, though channel lineups vary across each round.
American League fans should have FOX and FS1 locked and loaded for key matchups. However, National League followers will need access to TNT Sports channels like TBS and truTV, or a subscription to HBO Max, to catch that side of the postseason bracket.
Scroll down to see which TV providers carry these channels and how you can watch some playoff action for free.
What channels are the MLB Playoffs on?
The 2025 MLB Playoffs will likely air across six channels, based on last year’s schedule:
Most MLB playoff channels are easy to find from various TV providers, but you may need a higher-tier TV plan to access specific networks. Additionally, ESPN Deportes, Fox Deportes, MLB Network, truTV, UniMás, and Univision will carry Spanish-language postseason coverage.
Pro tip: All games airing on TBS and TNT will stream on HBO Max’s Standard and Premium plans. But it’s important to note that you might not need every playoff channel listed above—especially if you’re only tuning in for a specific team.
MLB Playoffs TV schedule
The 2025 MLB Playoffs begin in late September, starting with the Wild Card Series. After that, the action moves to the divisional and league series. The 121st World Series will likely begin in late October.
See the table below for when and how to watch every series in the postseason.
| Round | Start date | Channels |
|---|---|---|
| Wild Card Series | Tuesday, Sept. 30 | TBA |
| Division Series | Saturday, Oct. 4 | FOX, FS1, Fox Deportes, TBS, truTV, HBO Max |
| League Championship Series | Sunday, Oct. 12 | FOX, FS1, Fox Deportes, TBS, truTV, HBO Max |
| World Series | Friday, Oct. 24 | FOX, Fox Deportes |
Data effective as of post date.
Best TV plans for watching the MLB Playoffs
Now that you know the channels you’ll need to watch this year’s playoffs, you have a better idea of what to look for when choosing a TV provider. But we’ll make it a step easier. Here’s a list of our three favorite postseason TV plans.
- Antenna: You can catch every playoff game airing on ABC and FOX using an over-the-air (OTA) antenna, as long as you’re within range of a local affiliate station. Check out our Watch For Free section below for more on this viewing option.
- Sling TV + Antenna: Sling TV is the most affordable option for watching the MLB Playoffs because its Sling Orange + Blue plan offers FS1, TBS, and ESPN for just $60.99/mo.. While it lacks nationwide coverage for ABC and FOX, you can still stream ABC games through ESPN3 and use an antenna for FOX broadcasts.
- YouTube TV: At $82.99/mo., YouTube TV is an excellent service for streaming the MLB Postseason. You’ll get every playoff channel and sick features like multiview and unlimited DVR storage. We typically don’t recommend YouTube TV during the MLB regular season because it lacks MLB Network and crucial regional sports networks. But that won’t affect your viewing experience during the playoffs.
Which TV providers offer MLB playoff channels?
Most major TV providers offer the core MLB playoff networks, covering everything from the Wild Card Series to the World Series. Our table below highlights 13 popular providers and whether they carry the necessary channels.
| Provider | Price | ABC | ESPN | FOX | FS1 | TBS | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cox | $71.00–$162.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Read Cox review |
| DIRECTV | $84.99–$164.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for DIRECTV Read DIRECTV review |
| Stream with DIRECTV | $84.99–$164.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for DIRECTV STREAM Read Stream with DIRECTV review |
| DISH | $96.99–$126.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for DISH Read DISH review |
| Fubo | $14.99–$94.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | — |
View Plans for FuboTV Read Fubo review |
| Hulu + Live TV | $81.99–$95.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Hulu Read Hulu + Live TV review |
| Optimum | $15.00–$140.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Optimum Read Optimum review |
| Philo | $28.00/mo. | — | — | — | — | — |
View Plans for Philo Read Philo review |
| Sling TV | $19.99–$60.99/mo. | ✔* | ✔ | ✔* | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Sling TV Read Sling TV review |
| Spectrum | $40.00–$110.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Check Availability Read Spectrum review |
| Verizon Fios | $95.00–$139.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Verizon Read Verizon Fios review |
| Xfinity | $35.00–$90.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Read Xfinity review |
| YouTube TV | $82.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for YouTube TV Read YouTube TV review |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Available in select markets.
How to watch the MLB Playoffs for free
CableTV.com utilizes paid Amazon links. Amazon.com Price; $46.99 (as of 7/25/25 11:20 a.m. CT). Read full disclaimer.
Because the MLB Playoffs air across several basic cable networks, you’ll need a TV subscription to access the entire slate of playoff games. Some live TV streaming services offer free trials, but most don’t last longer than seven days.
You can watch a slice of playoff action without subscribing to a TV plan using an OTA antenna on your smart TV. Since ABC and FOX air various playoff games, you can tune in for free through your local network affiliates. That’s especially important since FOX will show the complete World Series.
If you need a high-quality antenna, we suggest checking out the Mohu Leaf 50. It’s one of our favorite antennas because of its 60-mile range and 4K capabilities. Though, you’ll want to enter your zip code on the FCC’s Reception Map Tool before committing to an antenna. That way, you can ensure ABC and FOX stations are within range of your home.
How to watch the MLB Playoffs FAQ
What app can I watch the MLB Playoffs on?
If you already have access to MLB playoff channels through a TV provider, you can watch live games through individual channel apps like ESPN, FOX Sports, and TBS. All you need to do is sign in to each app with your TV provider credentials. You can also watch the MLB Playoffs through the MLB app, but you’ll need an eligible TV provider login for live game access.
How can I watch the MLB Playoffs without cable?
Without cable, you can watch the entire MLB Playoffs through most live TV streaming services. We recommend Sling TV because it’s the cheapest way to get ESPN, FS1, and TBS in one plan (Sling Orange + Blue at $60.99/mo.), but you’ll likely need an antenna for FOX coverage.
Does Amazon Prime have the MLB Playoffs?
No, a basic Amazon Prime Video subscription doesn’t include nationally televised MLB games like the MLB Playoffs. But you can watch some MLB coverage through Prime Video using add-ons like HBO Max Standard and MLB.TV.
What is the new format for the MLB Playoffs?
The current postseason format launched in 2022 when the MLB expanded to a six-team American League and National League playoff bracket. Now, the Wild Card round is a best-of-three series instead of a single-elimination game, and the top two division winners of each league receive byes into the Division Series. Check out the MLB’s Postseason Format Explainer for a closer look at how it all works.
Why you should trust us
Our baseball experts researched the best ways to watch the MLB Playoffs by comparing the most popular TV providers head to head. We based our viewing recommendations primarily on ease of use—focusing on each provider’s channel lineups, pricing, and set-up process.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
Disclaimer
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
†Amazon.com price as of 7/25/25 11:20 a.m. CT. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. CableTV.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
