MLB Livestream 2023: How to Watch Baseball Online Free
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MLB Opening Day is here, bringing a full day of action from every team. That’s right; for the first time since 1968, all 30 MLB teams will be playing this Opening Day for a total of 15 games.
The 2023 MLB season sees the Houston Astros with the crown after beating the Philadelphia Phillies in 2022. But the big news this season is rules changes, headlined by the introduction of a pitch clock. This timer gives pitchers 15 seconds to throw when the bases are empty and 20 seconds when there are any runners on bases. The clock starts when the pitcher catches the ball and ends when he begins his throw (not when he releases the ball).
This year’s MLB season also sees broadcasts spread out across more TV channels and streaming platforms than before, making it tricky for cord-cutters to watch baseball online. But we’re here to help: Below is a full guide on the best ways to stream MLB games online this year.
How to Buy MLB Tickets Online
Streaming baseball games is great, but seeing them in person is of course the best option.
With so many games in a season, getting to a baseball game in person is easier (and cheaper) than many professional sports. If you’re looking to buy tickets to MLB games online in 2023, we suggest checking VividSeats.com. The website has legit tickets (and resale tickets) at good prices for just about every major ballpark.
How to Watch MLB Games Online Without Cable
MLB games are spread out across several networks and streaming services, including TBS, FS1, ESPN, Peacock, Apple TV+, and regional sports networks (RSNs). This means you’ll need to get a few streaming services to watch MLB games online this year. Here are some of the best streaming services you can use to watch baseball online:
1. Stream MLB on DirecTV Stream
With ESPN, FS1, TBS, and more RSNs than any other live TV streaming service, DirecTV Stream is the best way to watch MLB online in 2023. You’ll need to get the Ultimate package to stream baseball games shown RSNs, which costs $109.99 a month. Luckily, all DirecTV Stream packages start with a five-day free trial to test the service.
2. Stream MLB on Sling
Sling, one of the cheapest live TV streaming services, is another great way to watch baseball online in 2023. The service offers three subscription tiers — Orange, Blue, and Orange + Blue — with different live channels in each package. Orange gets you ESPN, ESPN2, and TBS, Blue gets you TBS, Fox, and FS1, and Orange + Blue gets you all the above. Pricing is $40 a month for Orange, $45 a month for Blue, and $60 per month for Orange + Blue.
3. Stream MLB on fuboTV
Want to stream MLB live on Fox, FS1, ESPN, and RSNs? Check out fuboTV. The live TV streamer offers plenty of baseball coverage, plus dozens of other popular live channels. It starts at $74.99 per month, but comes with a seven-day free trial that lets you stream baseball free for a week.
4. Stream MLB on Apple TV+
This season, Apple TV+ will be offering two live MLB games every Friday night. A subscription to Apple TV+ is very affordable at $6.99 a month (after a seven-day free trial), so you can even sign up for the service in addition to one of the more robust live TV streamers above.
5. Stream MLB on Peacock
Peacock is another streaming service offering MLB games this year with Sunday morning baseball games each week. Peacock is also very affordable at just $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year for a Peacock Premium subscription — upgrade to Peacock Premium Plus ($9.99 a month or $99.99 a year) to remove ads on the service’s on-demand content.
Buy Peacock Subscription $4.99+
How to Watch MLB Games Free Online
Want to watch baseball for free online? Be sure to take advantage of the free trials from DirecTV Stream, fuboTV, and Apple TV+. Together, these free trials get you more than two weeks of free MLB livestreams. Alternatively, you can time these free trials throughout the season to watch certain MLB games for free.
How to Stream Out-of-Market MLB Games
With regional restrictions on MLB broadcasts, it can be hard to watch your baseball team online while traveling or living away from home. The best way to watch MLB while traveling is with a VPN (a virtual private network), which essentially tricks your device into thinking it’s in another region. This will let you choose a location, and enjoy local broadcasts from that area.
We think the best VPN for baseball games is ExpressVPN. It’s easy to use, safe, and very fast, letting you quickly switch locations to catch your home team’s games. It costs as little as $8.32 per month and works in other countries too.
When Does the MLB Season Start in 2023?
Opening Day for the 2023 MLB season is Thursday, March 30. The action kicks off at 1:05 p.m. ET / 11:05 a.m. PT with the Atlanta Braves at the Washington Nationals and the San Francisco Giants at New York Yankees.
