It’s fall, and that means it’s time for Major League Baseball postseason play. Viewers have asked us how to watch the MLB playoffs without cable in 2023. In this article, we’ll break down when the playoffs happen, how many teams will play, what channels the games will air on, and the best ways to stream the MLB playoffs this year. Let’s dive in.
When are the 2023 MLB playoffs?
The 2023 MLB playoff games begin on Tuesday, October 3rd, and will continue through the World Series, which is scheduled to start on Friday, October 27th, and run through as late as Saturday, November 4th. In 2022, MLB changed the postseason format, allowing 12 teams to make the playoffs—six from the American League and six from the National League. This includes three division winners and three Wild Card teams per league. The first and second seeds receive first-round byes and advance directly to the division series. In the Wild Card race, the three seeds will play the six seeds, while the four seeds play the five seeds. Wild card games will be played over a three-day span, division games will be a best-of-five format, and the Championship and World Series matchups will be best-of-seven games.
What channels are the MLB playoffs on?
To catch all the MLB playoff action, you’ll need access to Fox, ESPN, and TBS. Here’s a breakdown of where each type of game will air:
- Wild card games will be broadcast on ESPN and ESPN2, available through the ESPN app to paying subscribers.
- American League Division Series games will air on Fox and FS1.
- National League Division Series games will air on TBS. Max has also announced that NLDS games will air there.
- ALCS games will be broadcast on Fox and FS1.
- NLCS games will air on TBS.
- The World Series will be shown on Fox.
Major League Baseball notes that all games on FS1 will be available to subscribers who are authenticated subscribers to the applicable network through a participating pay TV provider.
How can I stream the MLB playoffs?
Now, let’s explore the best ways to stream these channels. The most cost-effective way to watch the American League Division and Championship Games, as well as the World Series, is by using an antenna. For an upfront cost of about $50 or less, you can access all your local channels for the playoffs and live streams.
If you want to watch every game, you’ll need to subscribe to a live TV streaming service that carries ESPN, Fox, or FS1, and TBS. Services like Sling TV, Hulu Live, YouTube TV, and DirecTV Stream offer these channels. Pricing for these services starts at $55 for Sling Orange plus Blue and goes up to $77 or more for Hulu Live (at the time of recording).
We recommend starting with an antenna for local channels and then considering a live TV streaming service if you want to watch every game. Once the MLB playoffs are over, you can cancel your subscription and utilize free services like Sling FreeStream, Pluto, or Tubi, along with an antenna, to meet your entertainment needs with no monthly cost. Alternatively, you can take advantage of free trials on YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream to offset the cost of watching the playoffs, then cancel your subscription once the games you want to watch are over. This will help keep your costs to a minimum.
In conclusion, there are several ways to enjoy the MLB playoffs without cable in 2023. Choose the option that suits your preferences and budget. Thank you for reading, and enjoy watching the playoffs!
