The 2026 MLB Playoffs begin on Tuesday, September 29, and culminate with the World Series, which starts Friday, October 23. If a winner-take-all Game 7 is necessary, it’ll happen on Halloween night.
This postseason also brings a major TV shakeup. NBC Sports returns to playoff baseball for the first time since 2000 with the entire Wild Card Series, while TNT Sports handles the American League side of the next two rounds and FOX Sports takes the National League. FOX will then bring both leagues back together for the World Series.
Scroll down to see which channels and streaming services you’ll need, our favorite viewing options, and the complete round-by-round schedule. I’ll update specific matchups and first-pitch times as the postseason unfolds.
What channels are the MLB Playoffs on?
To cover the entire 2026 MLB postseason on traditional TV, you’ll need access to six English-language channels:
Fortunately, you don’t necessarily need a full live TV package. Peacock Premium streams every Wild Card Series game, HBO Max carries the ALDS and ALCS, and FOX One streams the NLDS, NLCS, and World Series.
Spanish-language postseason coverage will also air across Fox Deportes, Universo, and Univision.
Pro tip: Your favorite team’s league determines much of what you’ll need between the Division Series and League Championship Series. American League fans should prioritize TBS and truTV, while National League fans will want FOX and FS1 access.
2026 MLB Playoffs TV schedule
The 2026 MLB Playoffs begin in late September with the Wild Card Series and run through a potential World Series Game 7 on October 31. Here’s the postseason calendar at a glance. For a more comprehensive look at each series, click the drop-down menus a little further down. I’ll be updating each table as the postseason unfolds.
- Wild Card Series: Tuesday, Sept. 29-Thursday, Oct. 1
- Division Series: Saturday, Oct. 3-Saturday, Oct. 10
- National League Championship Series: Sunday, Oct. 11-Monday, Oct. 19
- American League Championship Series: Monday, Oct. 12-Tuesday, Oct. 20
- World Series: Friday, Oct. 23-Saturday, Oct. 31
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| American League Wild Card | |||
| Chicago White Sox at Houston Astros (Game 1) | Tuesday, Sept. 29 | 5:00 p.m. | Peacock Premium, NBCSN |
| Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees (Game 1) | Tuesday, Sept. 29 | 8:00 p.m. | NBC, Peacock Premium |
| Chicago White Sox at Houston Astros (Game 2) | Wednesday, Sept. 30 | 5:00 p.m. | Peacock Premium, NBCSN |
| Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees (Game 2) | Wednesday, Sept. 30 | 8:00 p.m. | NBC, Peacock Premium, NBCSN |
| Chicago White Sox at Houston Astros (Game 3)* | Thursday, Oct. 1 | 5:00 p.m. | Peacock Premium, NBCSN |
| Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees (Game 3)* | Thursday, Oct. 1 | 8:00 p.m. | NBC, Peacock Premium, NBCSN |
| National League Wild Card | |||
| Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves (Game 1) | Tuesday, Sept. 29 | 8:00 p.m. | NBC, Peacock Premium |
| Chicago Cubs at San Diego Padres (Game 1) | Tuesday, Sept. 29 | 10:00 p.m. | Peacock Premium, NBCSN |
| Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves (Game 2) | Wednesday, Sept. 30 | 8:00 p.m. | NBC, Peacock Premium |
| Chicago Cubs at San Diego Padres (Game 2) | Wednesday, Sept. 30 | 10:00 p.m. | Peacock Premium, NBCSN |
| Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves (Game 3)* | Thursday, Oct. 1 | 8:00 p.m. | NBC, Peacock Premium |
| Chicago Cubs at San Diego Padres (Game 3)* | Thursday, Oct. 1 | 10:00 p.m. | Peacock Premium, NBCSN |
Data effective as of post date.
*If necessary
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| American League Division Series | |||
| Chicago White Sox at Cleveland Guardians (Game 1) | Saturday, Oct. 3 | 1:00 p.m. | TBS, truTV, HBO Max |
| New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays (Game 1) | Saturday, Oct. 3 | 6:30 p.m. | TBS, truTV, HBO Max |
| Chicago White Sox at Cleveland Guardians (Game 2) | Monday, Oct. 5 | 5:00 p.m. | TBS, truTV, HBO Max |
| New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays (Game 2) | Monday, Oct. 5 | 8:00 p.m. | TBS, truTV, HBO Max |
| Cleveland Guardians at Chicago White Sox (Game 3) | Wednesday, Oct. 7 | 4:00 p.m. | TBS, truTV, HBO Max |
| Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees (Game 3) | Wednesday, Oct. 7 | 8:00 p.m. | TBS, truTV, HBO Max |
| Cleveland Guardians at Chicago White Sox (Game 4)* | Thursday, Oct. 8 | 5:00 p.m. | TBS, truTV, HBO Max |
| Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees (Game 4)* | Thursday, Oct. 8 | 8:00 p.m. | TBS, truTV, HBO Max |
| Chicago White Sox at Cleveland Guardians (Game 5)* | Saturday, Oct. 10 | 5:00 p.m. | TBS, truTV, HBO Max |
| New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays (Game 5)* | Saturday, Oct. 10 | 8:00 p.m. | TBS, truTV, HBO Max |
| National League Division Series | |||
| Atlanta Braves at Los Angeles Dodgers (Game 1) | Saturday, Oct. 3 | 4:00 p.m. | FOX, Fox Deportes |
| San Diego Padres at Milwaukee Brewers (Game 1) | Saturday, Oct. 3 | 8:30 p.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| San Diego Padres at Milwaukee Brewers (Game 2) | Sunday, Oct. 4 | 4:00 p.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Atlanta Braves at Los Angeles Dodgers (Game 2) | Sunday, Oct. 4 | 8:00 p.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves (Game 3) | Tuesday, Oct. 6 | 6:00 p.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Milwaukee Brewers at San Diego Padres (Game 3) | Tuesday, Oct. 6 | 9:30 p.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves (Game 4)* | Wednesday, Oct. 7 | 6:00 p.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Milwaukee Brewers at San Diego Padres (Game 4)* | Wednesday, Oct. 7 | 10:00 p.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| San Diego Padres at Milwaukee Brewers (Game 5)* | Friday, Oct. 9 | 4:00 p.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Atlanta Braves at Los Angeles Dodgers (Game 5)* | Friday, Oct. 9 | 8:00 p.m. | FOX, Fox Deportes |
Data effective as of post date.
*If necessary
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| National League Championship Series | |||
| Los Angeles Dodgers at Milwaukee Brewers (Game 1) | Sunday, Oct. 11 | 8:00 p.m. | FOX, Fox Deportes |
| Los Angeles Dodgers at Milwaukee Brewers (Game 2) | Monday, Oct. 12 | 5:00 p.m. | FOX, FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Milwaukee Brewers at Los Angeles Angels (Game 3) | Wednesday, Oct. 14 | 8:00 p.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Milwaukee Brewers at Los Angeles Angels (Game 4) | Thursday, Oct. 15 | 9:00 p.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Los Angeles Dodgers at Milwaukee Brewers (Game 5)* | Friday, Oct. 16 | 9:00 p.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Milwaukee Brewers at Los Angeles Angels (Game 6)* | Sunday, Oct. 18 | 8:00 p.m. | FS1, Fox Deportes |
| Los Angeles Dodgers at Milwaukee Brewers (Game 7)* | Monday, Oct. 19 | 8:00 p.m. | FOX, FS1, Fox Deportes |
| American League Championship Series | |||
| Cleveland Guardians at Tampa Bay Rays (Game 1) | Monday, Oct. 12 | 8:00 p.m. | TBS, HBO Max |
| Cleveland Guardians at Tampa Bay Rays (Game 2) | Tuesday, Oct. 13 | 8:00 p.m. | TBS, HBO Max |
| Tampa Bay Rays at Cleveland Guardians (Game 3) | Thursday, Oct. 15 | 1:00 p.m. | TBS, HBO Max |
| Tampa Bay Rays at Cleveland Guardians (Game 4) | Saturday, Oct. 17 | 8:00 p.m. | TBS, HBO Max |
| Cleveland Guardians at Tampa Bay Rays (Game 5)* | Sunday, Oct. 18 | 5:00 p.m. | TBS, HBO Max |
| Tampa Bay Rays at Cleveland Guardians (Game 6)* | Monday, Oct. 19 | 8:00 p.m. | TBS, HBO Max |
| Cleveland Guardians at Tampa Bay Rays (Game 7)* | Tuesday, Oct. 20 | 8:00 p.m. | TBS, HBO Max |
Data effective as of post date.
*If necessary
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Series | |||
| Tampa Bay Rays at Milwaukee Brewers (Game 1) | Friday, Oct. 23 | 8:00 p.m. | FOX, Fox Deportes |
| Tampa Bay Rays at Milwaukee Brewers (Game 2) | Saturday, Oct. 24 | 8:00 p.m. | FOX, Fox Deportes |
| Milwaukee Brewers at Tampa Bay Rays (Game 3) | Monday, Oct. 26 | 8:00 p.m. | FOX, Fox Deportes |
| Milwaukee Brewers at Tampa Bay Rays (Game 4) | Tuesday, Oct. 27 | 8:00 p.m. | FOX, Fox Deportes |
| Tampa Bay Rays at Milwaukee Brewers (Game 5)* | Wednesday, Oct. 28 | 8:00 p.m. | FOX, Fox Deportes |
| Milwaukee Brewers at Tampa Bay Rays (Game 6)* | Friday, Oct. 30 | 8:00 p.m. | FOX, Fox Deportes |
| Tampa Bay Rays at Milwaukee Brewers (Game 7)* | Saturday, Oct. 31 | 8:00 p.m. | FOX, Fox Deportes |
Data effective as of post date.
*If necessary
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 in a viewing setup. Our recommendations below start with a lower-cost setup that requires a few compromises, then move up to more expensive options with more complete postseason coverage.
- Antenna: You can catch every playoff game airing on FOX and NBC using an over-the-air antenna, as long as you’re within range of a local affiliate station. Check out our Watch For Free section below to learn more about this viewing option.
- Sling TV: Sling TV is one of the most affordable ways to watch the MLB Playoffs. Its Sling Orange & Blue plan starts at $60.99/mo. and includes FS1, TBS, truTV, and FOX One app access for its included FOX channels. You’ll need a separate Peacock Premium subscription ($12.99–$19.99/mo.) to stream the entire Wild Card Series; you may still need separate FOX access depending on your market.
- 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. I 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 12 popular providers and whether they carry the six English-language channels you’ll need this postseason.
| Provider | Price | NBC† | NBCSN | FOX† | FS1 | TBS | truTV | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astound Broadband | $48.37–$177.75/mo. | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Astound Broadband Learn about Astound TV |
| Cox | $20.00–$184.00/mo. | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Cox Read Cox review |
| DIRECTV | $94.99–$174.99/mo. | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for DIRECTV STREAM Read DIRECTV review |
| DISH | $94.99–$124.99/mo. | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for DISH Read DISH review |
| Fubo | $19.99–$108.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | — | — |
View Plans for FuboTV Read Fubo review |
| Hulu + Live TV | $98.99/mo. | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Hulu Read Hulu + Live TV review |
| Optimum | $15.00–$140.00/mo. | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Optimum Read Optimum review |
| Sling TV | $19.99–$60.99/mo. | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Sling TV Read Sling TV review |
| Spectrum | $40.00–$145.00/mo. | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Check Availability Read Spectrum review |
| Verizon Fios | $105.00–$149.00/mo. | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Verizon Read Verizon Fios review |
| Xfinity | $65.00–$135.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View Plans for Xfinity 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
You won’t find a completely free way to watch every MLB playoff game because several rounds air on cable networks and paid streaming services. But an over-the-air antenna can deliver a sizable chunk of the postseason at no monthly cost.
NBC will carry Wild Card Series games, while FOX will air every World Series game. Antenna reception varies by location, so I recommend checking Antennas Direct’s Transmitter Locator to see which channels are within range before counting on this option.
Some live TV streaming services also offer free trials to eligible new customers. Trial availability and length change frequently, so check the provider’s current terms before signing up. DIRECTV currently offers a five-day free trial, while YouTube TV sometimes offers free-trial promotions to eligible new subscribers.
How to watch the MLB Playoffs FAQ
How can I watch the MLB Playoffs without cable?
You can watch the entire postseason without traditional cable through a live TV streaming service that carries NBC, FOX, FS1, TBS, and truTV. You can also build an app-based setup using Peacock, HBO Max, and FOX One.
Does Amazon Prime have the MLB Playoffs?
No, a basic Amazon Prime Video subscription doesn't include the MLB Playoffs. But you can watch postseason games through Prime Video Channels add-ons like FOX One, HBO Max, and Peacock.
How can I watch the MLB Playoffs in Canada?
In Canada, you can watch every MLB Postseason and World Series game on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+. TVA Sports also provides French-language postseason coverage.
What is the current MLB playoff format?
MLB's current postseason format features six playoff teams from each league. The top two division winners receive first-round byes, while the remaining clubs play a best-of-three Wild Card Series before the best-of-five Division Series and best-of-seven League Championship Series and World Series.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com Sports Editor, Taylor Kujawa, researched MLB’s 2026 postseason schedule and broadcast agreements to determine how each playoff round will air on TV and streaming. He also compared popular viewing options based on channel availability, price, features, and ease of use to find the most practical ways to follow October baseball.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
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