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The 2024 MLB Playoffs are here, and the weeks-long run-up to the World Series kicked off with a slate of Wild Card games. We’ve put together everything you need to know about how to watch the MLB Playoffs, including TV packages that will grant you access to every single game.
The Playoffs will run from October 1 until October 22 at the very latest, but they could wrap up by October 19 if there are multiple sweeps. They’re immediately followed by the World Series, which starts on October 25 and goes until November 2 at the very latest.
The Wild Card round knocked out four teams, including the Milwaukee Brewers in a tie-breaking Game 3 against the New York Mets, who are having a better season than last year when they missed the Playoffs altogether. The NLDS and ALDS best-of-five series begin this weekend. The Mets will face off with the Philadelphia Phillies. Other match-ups include the Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Guardians, Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees, and San Diego Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers.
Whether you’re looking to live stream a game or you just want to know what channel it’s on, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to learn how to watch every single game in the 2024 MLB Playoffs.
How to watch the MLB Playoffs in the US
The MLB Playoffs will be spread across several networks: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, FOX, FS1, and TBS. If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV package to tune into all the games. The Wild Card games aired on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2, but the rest of the Playoffs (including the World Series) will be on FOX, FS1, and/or TBS.
The cheapest option today is Sling TV, which costs $55/month for its Sling Orange + Blue plan. Sling offers guaranteed access to ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, and TBS. Local channel coverage, like ABC and FOX, varies from region to region. Sling is currently running a promo that will get you $25 off your first month, meaning that you might be able to catch the entirety of the MLB Playoffs for just $30. Since the Wild Card games are over and you don’t have to worry about ESPN and ESPN2, you can also just subscribe to Sling Blue for $40/month.
For just the essentials without any extra fluff, Sling TV is the streaming service you’re looking for. It’s more customizable than other plans, with three options you can choose from, so you pay for only what you need. New members get their first month for $25 off.
DirecTV Stream, DirecTV’s equipment-less month-to-month sibling, is another great live TV package with every channel you’ll need to stream the Playoffs. DirecTV has broad local channel coverage, so if you’re missing something like FOX on Sling, this will be the way to go. Entertainment plans start at $80/month, although prices are scheduled to increase by $7/month starting this weekend. New customers can try out DirecTV free for one week.
Previously known as AT&T TV, DirecTV Stream offers streaming access to a large selection of live channels, including most key networks typically found in traditional cable packages.
Fubo is another solid live TV option with broad local channel coverage, along with ESPN, ESPN2, and FS1. Fubo notably lacks TBS (along with TNT, CNN, and other Warner Bros. channels). Subscriptions cost $80/month and include a one-week free trial for new customers.
Fubo is the streaming service for sports fans. Its huge library of channels includes regional and international sports leagues, setting it apart from the competition. You can also tack on additional programming to your plan, but it’ll cost you extra.
How to watch the MLB Playoffs from anywhere
If you’ll be traveling outside the US during any notable games in the 2024 MLB Playoffs, you can still keep up with your subscriptions via VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are handy cybersecurity tools that allow you to change your device’s virtual location, meaning that you can keep up with all of your usual websites and apps from anywhere. This option will work best for Americans who are just traveling abroad since the services we’ve highlighted require US methods of payment.
Not sure where to start when it comes to VPNs? Our go-to recommendation is ExpressVPN, which comes with a hassle-free 30-day money-back guarantee. Check out our ExpressVPN review for additional information, and keep reading to learn how to use it.
With its consistent performance, reliable security, and expansive global streaming features, ExpressVPN is the best VPN out there, excelling in every spec and offering many advanced features that makes it exceptional. Better yet, you can save up to 49% and get an extra three months for free today.
How to watch the MLB Playoffs with a VPN
- Sign up for a VPN if you don’t have one.
- Install it on the device you’re using to watch the game.
- Turn it on and set it to a US location.
- Sign up for your chosen streaming service if you don’t already have an account.
- Enjoy the game!
Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.
Lillian Brown
Associate Editor of Streaming
Lillian Brown is the Associate Editor of Streaming for Business Insider. She joined the company in early 2024 as a Fellow before joining us full-time a few months later. She focuses on ‘how to watch’ guides for streaming services and live events for the Reviews team. She also covers VPN usage.Her entertainment writing has appeared in a variety of publications, including Vulture, TV Guide, Time, Esquire, and The Daily Beast, among others. She specializes in writing about film and television. Previously, she worked in the Living/Arts department of The Boston Globe.When not teaching people how to stream the best live sports and TV shows, Lillian can be found long-distance running, watching the latest season of For All Mankind, or playing through The Last of Us Part II on her PS4 yet again.
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