How To Watch the 2026 MLB Playoffs From Anywhere

The MLB postseason is here. Learn how to catch all the excitement of the MLB playoffs from anywhere in the world.
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The 2026 MLB postseason kicks off September 29, bringing the intensity of October baseball back to center stage. From the do-or-die Wild Card Series to the best-of-seven League Championship Series and the ultimate Fall Classic, every inning is packed with drama. NBC carries the Wild Card round, TBS picks up American League games in the Division and Championship Series, and FOX and FS1 handle National League games plus every World Series matchup.

For baseball fans, this is the most thrilling time of the year, when heroes emerge, rivalries ignite, and every pitch can change a season. In this guide, we'll show you how to stream every moment of the 2026 MLB playoffs from anywhere, whether you're sticking with cable, cutting the cord, or turning to thee best VPN services to watch from outside your usual coverage area. 

In this article
How to watch in the U.S.
How to bypass blackouts
How to watch the U.K.
How to watch in Canada
When are the 2026 MLB playoffs?
Bottom line
FAQs

How to watch the MLB playoffs in the U.S.

Watching the Major League Baseball playoffs in the United States may be as easy as subscribing to your favorite streaming service for nonstop coverage, both during the regular season and the postseason.

However, it’s worth noting that some providers, like MLB TV, for instance, may have blackouts or restrictions due to exclusivity agreements. Click here for what to do if you encounter a blackout.

Platform Price Free Trial Included Sports Channels/Coverage
Sling TV (Orange/Blue + Sports Extras) $75.99/mo No ABC, TBS, TruTV, FS1, ESPN, ESPN2, FOX
Hulu + Live TV $11.99/mo Yes ABC, TBS, TruTV, FS1, ESPN, ESPN2, FOX
Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ bundle Starts at $19.99/mo No All games through ESPN Unlimited
Fubo $9.99-$108.99/mo Yes ABC, TBS, TruTV, FS1, ESPN, ESPN2, FOX
MLB.TV $29.99/mo Yes Major league games (including playoffs), minor league games, single A games
DirecTV Choice $59.99/mo No ABC, TBS, TruTV, FS1, ESPN, ESPN2, FOX

How to bypass MLB blackouts

Streaming platforms have made it easier than ever to watch the MLB playoffs, but blackout restrictions and regional blocks can still frustrate even the most devoted fans. These blackouts occur when broadcasters limit access to games based on your location, meaning you could miss out on key postseason matchups simply because of where you live.

That's where a virtual private network (VPN) comes in. By masking your IP address and letting you connect through servers in different locations, a VPN can help you bypass geographic restrictions and access playoff broadcasts that would otherwise be blocked.

Since we’re looking specifically for VPNs to stream the MLB playoffs, let’s look at the best VPN for MLB.TV: NordVPN. It offers 2,800+ servers in the U.S. across all 50 states, so you can easily find the best place to stream geo-restricted content. 

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How to watch the MLB playoffs in the U.K.

Baseball fans across the pond can tune into their favorite Major League games as easily as American viewers, with albeit fewer options. TNT Sports and the BBC are rightsholders for the MLB playoffs in the U.K., so those platforms will have the best, most reliable coverage on any postseason baseball.

TNT Sports is streamed on Discovery+, while the BBC has its own streaming platform, BBC iPlayer. iPlayer is free, but you’ll need a TV license to watch.

Platform Price Free Trial Included Sports Channels/Coverage
Discovery+ Premium About $40.00/mo. Yes TNT Sports, Eurosport

How to watch the MLB playoffs in Canada

Sportsnet+ is the rightsholder for MLB coverage in Canada, and offers a streaming platform for Canadian viewers to catch postseason coverage. MLB.TV is also available in Canada.

Platform Price Free Trial Included Sports Channels/Coverage
Sportsnet+ $19.99-$34.99/mo. No MLB games (including playoffs)
MLB.TV $29.99-$39.99/mo. Yes Major league games (including playoffs), minor league games, single A games

When are the 2026 MLB playoffs?

The 2026 MLB playoffs begin September 29 with the Wild Card Series and run through a potential World Series Game 7 on October 31. Here's the confirmed round-by-round schedule, plus where things stand in the playoff race with the regular season wrapping up this week.

Wild Card Series

All four series play Game 1 on September 29, Game 2 on September 30, and Game 3, if necessary, on October 1. Matchups will be added once the regular season ends.

Division Series

Game AL date NL date Network
1 Saturday, October 3 Saturday, October 3 TBS (AL) / FOX, FS1 (NL)
2 Monday, October 5 Sunday, October 4 TBS (AL) / FOX, FS1 (NL)
3 Wednesday, October 7 Tuesday, October 6 TBS (AL) / FOX, FS1 (NL)
4 Thursday, October 7 Wednesday, October 7 TBS (AL) / FOX, FS1 (NL)
5 Saturday, October 10 Friday, October 9 TBS (AL) / FOX, FS1 (NL)

League Championship Series:

Game NLCS date ALCS date Network
1 Sunday, October 11 Monday, October 12 FOX/FS1 (NL) / TBS (AL)
2 Monday, October 12 Tuesday, October 13 FOX/FS1 (NL) / TBS (AL)
3 Wednesday, October 14 Thursday, October 15 FOX/FS1 (NL) / TBS (AL)
4 Thursday, October 15 Friday, October 16 FOX/FS1 (NL) / TBS (AL)
5* Friday, October 16 Saturday, October 17 FOX/FS1 (NL) / TBS (AL)
6* Sunday, October 18Monday, October 19 FOX/FS1 (NL) / TBS (AL)
7* Monday, October 19Tuesday, October 19 FOX/FS1 (NL) / TBS (AL)

World Series

Game Date
1 Friday, October 23
2 Saturday, October 24
3 Monday, October 26
4 Tuesday, October 27
5* Wednesday, October 28
6* Friday, October 30
7* Saturday, October 31
*if necessary. All dates are tentative and subject to change per MLB.com.

Bottom line

For baseball fans, October signals the paramount time for baseball watching — the MLB playoffs and World Series championship games. Regardless of the team you’re rooting for, baseball fans can usually agree on one thing: Catching a game on TV isn’t always as easy as it seems.

Network restrictions, blackouts, and exclusivity rights can make watching postseason baseball games on your regular streaming platform tricky.

However, the right VPN can help make sure you stream your favorite team until the very end. Our guide to the best VPNs can help you choose which VPN can provide the best baseball coverage as well as all the other bells and whistles you’re looking for.

FAQs

Is MLB.TV free with Amazon Prime?

MLB.TV is not free for Amazon Prime members, but Prime members can subscribe to MLB.TV monthly or annually and watch live, out-of-market games.

Can I watch the MLB playoffs on Roku?

Yes, the MLB Network live stream is available on Roku devices. You just need to make sure you have a subscription to MLB.TV, DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Sling TV or YouTube TV.

Can I watch the MLB playoffs for free?

Many streaming platforms offer free trials, so if you time it correctly, you can watch at least some of the Major League Baseball playoff games for free. However, the MLB playoffs consist of four rounds: The playoffs begin the first week of October, culminating with the World Series during the last week of October or the beginning of November.

Most platforms don’t offer a trial that will last the entire playoffs, so while it’s possible to watch some of the playoff games for free, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to watch the entire series for free.


All-in-One Digital Security App with Servers in All 50 U.S. States
5.0
Editorial Rating
Claim Deal
On NordVPN's website
2026 Editors’ Choice
Best Features
VPN
NordVPN
PROMOTION: Save Up to 75% Off and Get 3 Months Extra
  • VPN that earned the only Platinum rating in a five-way independent speed and security test by Artifact Security
  • Historically unlocks Netflix libraries in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia with no errors
  • Bundles with ad blocker, data removal, and encrypted storage for a more complete privacy setup

Author Details
Courtney Daybell brings 15 years of print journalism experience to her coverage of identity theft, online scams, and parental controls — including bylines at Time Out New York and The Cut. She holds a B.A. in Communications from Brigham Young University, and her editorial discipline shapes how she covers high-stakes topics that readers turn to. She has written more than 55 articles for All About Cookies, focusing on identity theft prevention.