How To Watch the Tampa Bay Rays
Will the Rays return to their winning ways under new ownership?
Stuart Sternberg sold the Rays to a group headed by real estate developer Patrick Zalupski last September. As with any change at that level, it’s become infinitely more fascinating to watch the Rays moving forward.
In another big development, fans from Miami to Tallahassee have a new channel for live in-market games: Rays.TV. The Rays were one of several teams to end contracts with FanDuel Sports Network ahead of the 2026 season.
I created this guide to help you watch every Rays game this season. No matter where you live, I broke down the best TV plans and streaming services so you’ll never miss an at-bat. Keep reading for my detailed recommendations.
Spring into baseball with DIRECTV!
DIRECTV has the most MLB games, including Spring Training, period.* Not only that, but this season you can catch the World Baseball Classic and tons of college ball streaming on your favorite devices. With so much live action on deck, it's time to get your game together by scouting DIRECTV's packages today.
*Claim based on total games carried on Nat'l and combined local Regional Sports Networks. RSNs avail. with CHOICE package or higher. Avail. of RSNs varies by ZIP code and pkg. Blackouts apply.
Where to watch the Rays—local TV breakdown
FanDuel Sports Network is out, Rays.TV is in. That’s the summation of what in-market fans need to know about how to watch the Tampa Bay Rays across the state of Florida.
But if you don’t live in Florida, don’t sweat it! You can still watch the Rays using MLB.TV or MLB EXTRA INNINGS, depending on whether you prefer a streaming-only experience or a traditional TV provider.
| Channel | Starting price | Coverage | Available on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rays.TV | $99.99/season | Most in-market games | MLB app, DIRECTV |
| MLB.TV | $29.99/mo. | Most out-of-market games | MLB and ESPN apps |
| MLB EXTRA INNINGS | $149.99/season | Most out-of-market games | Cable and satellite services |
Where to watch the Rays—national TV breakdown
| Network | Coverage | Available on |
|---|---|---|
| Apple TV | Friday Night Baseball exclusive games | Apple TV subscription ($12.99/mo.) |
| ESPN | Select regular-season games | Cable, satellite, live TV streaming services |
| FOX | Saturday MLB games, select primetime matchups, All-Star Game, World Series | Cable, satellite, live TV streaming services |
| FS1 | Saturday regular-season games, select postseason games (Division Series, League Championship Series) | Cable, satellite, live TV streaming services |
| MLB Network | Regular-season national games, simulcasts, showcase matchups | Cable, satellite, select live TV streaming services |
| NBC | Select Sunday MLB games | Cable, satellite, live TV streaming services |
| Netflix | Exclusive events (Home Run Derby, MLB at Field of Dreams) | Netflix subscription ($7.99–$24.99/mo.) |
| Peacock | Exclusive Sunday MLB games | Peacock Premium subscription ($10.99–$16.99/mo.), NBCSN (simulcasts) |
| TBS | Regular-season Tuesday night games, select postseason games (Division Series, League Championship Series) | Cable, satellite, live TV streaming services |
Best TV plans for watching the Tampa Bay Rays
The most comprehensive TV plan for in-market Rays games in 2026 is undoubtedly anything that gets you Rays.TV, whether through a traditional cable/satellite provider or a streaming service. I often recommend DIRECTV as the ultimate base service because it bundles a linear version of Rays.TV on Channel 652 with national MLB channels.
Of course, you’ll still need to supplement any base service with Peacock and Apple TV for the few games that stream exclusively on those platforms. Here’s a quick breakdown of my top Rays TV plans.
Best Overall
Both the satellite and streaming versions of DIRECTV are great for watching a ton of baseball. You’ll want its CHOICE™ plan or above (starting at $94.99/mo.) for in-market coverage.
Exclusive Games
Rays fans can expect some games to stream exclusively on Apple TV ($12.99/mo.) this season as part of its Friday Night Baseball lineup.
Exclusive Games
Peacock will stream a few Rays games in 2026. For fans who want to watch all 162, a Peacock Premium subscription ($10.99–$16.99/mo.) is a must.
Out-of-Market Coverage
You don’t have to live in Florida to watch those Rays.TV broadcasts. If you’re out of market, just sign up for MLB.TV ($149.99/season) and you’re set.
Watch Rays baseball with a free trial
Watching the Rays doesn’t have to be super expensive. That’s why I took the liberty of spelling out which free trials you can use to test-drive services before making a financial commitment.
| Packages | Price | ESPN | FOX | FS1 | NBC | TBS | MLB Network | RSNs* | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIRECTV | Five days free, then $89.99–$169.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | View Plans for DIRECTV STREAM |
| Fubo | Five days free, then $14.99–$94.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | — | — | ✔ | ✔ | View Plans for FuboTV |
| YouTube TV | Varies, then $82.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | — | — | View Plans for YouTube TV |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Avail. of RSNs varies by zip code and pkg.
Get tickets to see the Rays!
Buy Tampa Bay Rays tickets through our partner, StubHub—your source for the best deals on Rays games and more.
How to watch the Tampa Bay Rays FAQ
What channel are the Rays on?
You can watch in-market Tampa Bay Rays baseball games on Rays.TV. For national TV games, the Rays will appear on channels like FS1, Peacock, and Apple TV.
Can I stream Rays baseball games without cable?
Yes, the best way for Rays fans to enjoy games without cable is to get a Rays.TV streaming subscription. If you're not in the market, MLB.TV will get you most regular-season Rays games. For any national games, you can subscribe to Peacock and Apple TV to catch streaming exclusives.
Why are Rays games blacked out in my area?
In-market Rays fans won't be able to watch games on MLB.TV due to local blackouts enforced by the league. Instead, fans need access to Rays.TV.
Can I watch the Tampa Bay Rays for free?
It's going to be quite difficult to watch Rays baseball for free in 2026. The best way is to get a free trial of a live TV streaming service, but those trials are very limited and will only get you a few games before you have to pay.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com junior sports writer, Alex Vejar, reviewed the details of the Tampa Bay Rays’ 2026 schedule. He then researched which TV and streaming providers offered the most channels to watch Rays games. Using that information, he made a recommendation that he feels is best for Rays fans.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our review methods.
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