How To Watch MLB on DIRECTV: Your 2026 Season Guide

Watching MLB on DIRECTV has been a game-changer for me, especially as a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan living hundreds of miles from Wrigley Field. I consider DIRECTV a vital hub for baseball because it’s practically the only service that combines every traditional national channel with nearly every regional sports network (RSN). While it doesn’t capture every pitch in this era of streaming exclusives, it wrangles the vast majority of the 162-game season onto a single platform.

Of course, with great coverage comes great prices—I think Uncle Ben said that, right? DIRECTV is definitely an investment, and I only recommend it to superfans who want a comprehensive live TV lineup to support their baseball cravings. But if you’re tired of the fractured RSN landscape where you might need a separate streaming subscription just to watch your home team, DIRECTV offers much-needed stability.

While you’ll still need separate subscriptions for the league’s streaming-exclusive partners (Apple TV, Peacock, and Netflix), DIRECTV covers almost everything else. In this guide, I’ll break down exactly how to build the perfect baseball package so you can spend less time scrolling and more time watching your team chase the pennant.

Jump to:

• Best MLB plans
• National channel lineup
• Regional sports networks
• Out-of-market coverage

Best MLB plans on DIRECTV

For most baseball fans, DIRECTV’s CHOICE™ package is the sweet spot. It’s the lowest-tier plan that unlocks all essential MLB channels, including MLB Network, FS1, TBS, your local RSN, and ESPN Unlimited. While the cheaper ENTERTAINMENT plan might tempt you with a lower price tag, it leaves you without MLB Network and your local team’s games, effectively benching you for the season.

If you’re only after sports, DIRECTV’s genre-based MySports™ plan is a solid alternative I recommend to avoid channel bloat. By pairing this streaming base pack with the MyHome Team add-on, you get every national and local MLB channel in your area. The total cost may appear higher than the CHOICE plan, but it’s actually slightly lower when you factor in CHOICE’s RSN fee.

Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See full disclaimer for details.

* Requires MySports base pack.

National MLB channel lineup on DIRECTV

In 2026, you’ll find the bulk of national MLB broadcasts on FOX, FS1, TBS, and NBC. These channels carry marquee matchups, including Sunday Night Baseball and the MLB Playoffs. While DIRECTV’s basic Entertainment plan gets you all of these channels, you’ll need a higher-tier plan for MLB Network‘s 24/7 baseball coverage.

MLB Network Strike Zone is also available on DIRECTV for commercial-free, whip-around coverage of live games. Similar to NFL RedZone, this channel provides real-time highlights and look-ins, but it only airs on Wednesday and Friday nights during the regular season. To get it, Signature plan subscribers need the DIRECTV Sports Pack, while MySports subscribers must add the MySports Extra pack.

† Satellite customers only.

Watching local MLB games on DIRECTV

DIRECTV is one of the only providers that carries nearly every regional sports network, featuring teams that other services leave behind. This includes traditional networks and dedicated linear channels for franchises like the Diamondbacks, Padres, and Twins, whose local broadcasts are now produced by MLB. You can find most of these RSNs in the 600+ channel number block.

RSN access requires the CHOICE package or higher (or the MyHome Team add-on for genre pack subscribers) and comes with a mandatory regional sports fee. This fee can add up to $19.99/mo. to your bill. But for many fans, it’s still more convenient than piecing together multiple streaming subscriptions.

MLB RSNs on DIRECTV

DIRECTV’s out-of-market MLB coverage

If you don’t live within your favorite MLB team’s home territory—like a Cardinals fan living in San Diego—you need an out-of-market TV package. Without it, you’ll be stuck watching only national broadcasts and the local team’s games.

This is where your connection type matters. DIRECTV satellite customers can get MLB EXTRA INNINGS, a package of linear channels that delivers up to 90 out-of-market games per week. It includes MLB.TV for streaming, MLB Strike Zone, and the Game Mix channel, which lets you watch up to eight games simultaneously on one screen.

Meanwhile, DIRECTV streaming customers must buy a separate MLB.TV subscription. For the 2026 season, MLB.TV management has shifted to ESPN. You can now purchase MLB.TV as a premium add-on within the ESPN app and stream games directly through the ESPN interface. Fortunately, most DIRECTV plans include a complimentary ESPN Unlimited subscription, which gives you a $15 discount to MLB.TV.

MLB on DIRECTV FAQ

Disclaimer