How To Watch Every Game This Postseason Without Cable

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(Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

Hello cord-cutting baseball fans, and welcome to the toughest month of the season.

Thanks to MLB.tv, baseball has long been a sport that is extremely friendly to fans who donâ€t pay for cable, satellite or any streaming substitute—so long as you arenâ€t a fan of your local team. With MLB.tv, you can make one lump payment and watch as many as 10+ games per day for six months. And in recent years, fans of their local team(s) can pay to add those games to their live viewing schedule, as well.

There are exceptions—Apple TV+’s Friday games for example—but even in those cases, watching Big Inning helps keep you on top of the important action in games.

But when the playoffs arrive, options for cable-free households become much more difficult to navigate, as MLB.tv doesnâ€t cover the playoffs if you live in the United States. And with the postseason being broadcast across a range of different channels—ESPN (wild card), ABC (wild card), Fox (AL playoffs after the wild card round and World Series), FS1 (AL playoffs after the wild card round) and TBS (NL playoffs after wild card round)—paying for just one networkâ€s app for the month won’t solve the issue, either.

With that in mind, we thought it would be useful to present a variety of options for fans in this sticky situation when it comes to watching the entirety of the 2025 playoffs in a 100 percent legal manner. This is not an ad, and Baseball America is not getting compensated for any of these recommendations. Itâ€s simply a guide to help fans enjoy one of the most exciting times of the baseball calendar.

If You Want The Simplest Approach

If you’re looking for way to get the entirety of the playoffs without having to juggle any long-term subscriptions, YouTubeTV is running a $49.99 a month trial rate for two months. The deal only applies to new YouTubeTV customers, but if thatâ€s you, you can get the entirety of the playoffs for a maximum of $100.

Realistically, most people will pay only $50, as the playoffs run from Sept. 30 until Nov. 1 if the World Series goes to a Game 7. Should the World Series end after Game 5, you can still cancel in time to pay for only one month. And if you have an antenna (either traditional or digital) and can get a Fox signal over the air, you’ll be covered for those World Series games anyway and will have all the channels needed in a one-month subscription.

Not eligible for the first-time subscriber YouTubeTV deal? DirecTV streaming is also having a one-month $50 trial that will cover the channels (ESPN, FS1, TBS) you need to watch playoff games.

If You’re Willing To Work (A Lot) To Save Money

Not everyone will want to pay $50 to watch games this postseason. In that case, if you’re willing to sign up for and cancel various free trials in succession, there are ways to get through the playoffs without paying nearly as much. Again, this process only works if you havenâ€t previously signed up for these before, so be sure to read all of the terms and conditions before signing up.

There are going to be gaps, and itâ€s not going to be nearly as easy, but it is doable.

The first part of this process is making sure you have an over-the-air antenna that picks up your local Fox station. If you are somewhere in the country that canâ€t pick up a Fox broadcast signal, Iâ€d recommend jumping back up to the YouTubeTV option. If you can get Fox, but donâ€t have an antenna, itâ€s worth investing the $30-$40 for a decent antenna with a signal amplifier. Thatâ€s a minor investment that should be part of every cord-cutterâ€s year-round playbook.

Once you’ve picked out a digital antenna, you connect it via the coaxial cable connection on the back of your television and have your TV scan for digital channels. Once itâ€s done, you have your broadcast channels for free 365 days a year (with the blessing of clear weather and no signal blockages).

With that done, buckle up. This is going to be a fun month of baseball, but it will require planning and flexibility. If you already have HBO Max to get you the TBS games, you could, with some luck, get through this entire month without spending a dime. And in the worst case scenario, it would still cost you less than $30 if you can watch a game or two at a friend’s house.

Ok, ready for our free trial game plan?

Week 1: Sept. 30-Oct. 6

Sign up for FuboTVâ€s free one-week trial. This will get you the entirety of the Wild Card round (ESPN/ABC), plus the first two days of the ALDS. You cancel this after Monday, Oct. 6 games. The NLDS games are more of an issue, as Fubo does not have TBS. If you already have an HBO Max subscription on any of the higher tiers, you have TBS games included. But if not, you can sign up for $16.99 for the month, which will get you through the entirety of TBSâ€s NLDS and NLCS coverage. Thatâ€s pretty much a requirement, as you cannot piece together free trials that will cover the entirety of the TBS schedule.

Week 2 (Step 1) : Oct. 7-Oct. 9

Sign up for Hulu Live TVâ€s three-day free trial. It includes FS1 and TBS, and gets you the Games 3 and 4 of the League Division Series. If all four series go four games or less, this takes you through the second round of the playoffs. If not, you have to plan otherwise for the Game 5s on Oct. 10 and 11.

Week 2 (Step 2): Oct. 10-11

Thereâ€s some flexibility required here. The Friday ALDS Game 5s (if necessary) are either going to air on Fox or FS1. If they are on Fox, you have your antenna. If one or both are on FS1, you will need to plan otherwise. These are do-or-die Game 5s, so you’re not going to want to miss these. In the case of a game on FS1, this is a night to find a friend who is watching at their house. Ask them what time you can show up and that you will bring the pizza.

The Oct. 11 games are definitely going to be on TBS if necessary. If these happen, this is again where the HBO Max option mentioned above is needed.

Week 3: Oct. 12-21

Weâ€re now into NLCS/ALCS territory. Flexibility is once again vital.

If the ALCS opener on Oct. 12 is on Fox, you use your antenna, but we have to prepare for the possibility itâ€s on FS1. If so, sign up for FoxOneâ€s seven-day free trial for streaming. The TBS games are going to require you to have HBO Maxâ€s $16.99 option. If there are Games 6-7 of the ALCS, we do not know for sure that they will be on Fox. They could end up on FS1, but weâ€re going to cross our fingers and hope these will be over the air.

It’s important that you not start your free trial of FoxOne until there is a game on FS1. So, if Game 1 of the ALCS is over the air, you do not have to start your seven-day free trial until Oct. 13 (Game 2) or even Oct. 15 (Game 3).

But if FS1 airs both Game 1 and Game 7 (if there is Game 7), you wonâ€t be able to get all the games in a seven-day free trial. In that case, you’re going to have to go somewhere to fill that gap by going to a sports bar/restaurant or watch at a friend’s house. If the ALCS doesn’t go six games or longer, you’re covered with the seven-day free trial even if all games air on FS1.

World Series: Oct. 24-Nov. 1

This is the easiest part. The entire World Series is on Fox. Use your antenna to watch the entirety of the World Series for free.

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