With the start of the MLB Playoffs comes one of the best several weeks for sports fans. Casual and diehard baseball fans alike can get excited about the MLB postseason. Teams save some of their best baseball for October and there are always surprise victories, tons of highlights, or memorable individual performances that you just can’t miss.
Thankfully, even if you cut cable, you don’t have to miss anything. Below, you can find details on which tools you can choose for watching the playoffs on each and every channel broadcasting games.
What Are the Best Tools for Cable Cutters During the MLB Playoffs?
As the trend of cable cutting has grown, so has the options for you to watch the postseason without cable. There are a few different services and the best set up will vary by person, so check out some details on your options:
Antenna
One of the best tools for cable cutters out there, the antenna will be incredibly helpful during the MLB postseason. A great antenna, like a Mohu ReLeaf, will pick up over-the-air network broadcasts from channels like NBC, CBS, FOX, and ABC.
The only cost for the antenna is the initial investment, because watching TV broadcasts is completely free once you set it up. All of these reasons make it pretty obvious why more and more people are using antennas nowadays.
Make sure to check out how the reception will be in your area on the antenna.
PlayStation Vue
Sony’s streaming service, PlayStation Vue, operates on a subscription basis starting at $29.99 per month. Inside the package are channels like Comedy Central, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FS2, TBS, TNT, CNN, and many more. In certain places, susbcribers can even watch network channels like FOX, NBC, CBS, and ABC live. At the moment, these areas are limited and the package does go up to a starting cost of $39.99 per month.
Sling TV
Another streaming service on the market is Sling TV, offered by Dish Network. There are two starting packages for the service costing either $20 or $25 per month. Both packages have channels like AMC, CNN, TBS, and TNT. The difference is the $20 Sling Orange package also features channels from ESPN’s family of networks, while the $25 Blue bundle has channels like FS1, FS2, NBCSN, and even FOX live streaming in certain places.
How do I Watch Each Channel During the MLB Postseason?
There will be multiple channels broadcasting games for both the American and National League series. The key is figuring out which games will be broadcasted where and then you can decide what the optimum service will be for you. Our recommendation is you will likely need an antenna if you want to really get the full package. Here are some additional details by channel:
FOX
FOX can be seen as the most important channel to gain access to, largely because it will broadcast the entire World Series. Plus, it will split the broadcasting of the National League games with FS1.
The antenna is the best answer to watch the postseason on FOX live. You can get the games in high-definition and watch right on your TV with minimal set up. Plus, watching FOX on the antenna is absolutely free!
Both Sling TV, with the Blue package, and PlayStation Vue will also be options to watching FOX live. The real downside is both services only offer FOX live to people based on their location and the availability is quite limited.
ESPN
ESPN will only be broadcasting a single game, the NL Wild Card game, so access is not nearly as critical. But, it’s a huge channel to have access to if you are into watching any other sports. The Sling Orange package for $20 per month or the PlayStation Vue starter for $29.99 per month will both get you the live streaming access to ESPN and the NL Wild Card game.
TBS
TBS, like FOX, is a channel that is critical to have access to during the MLB postseason. It will be broadcasting every single AL game prior to the World Series starting from the AL Wild Card game to the last game of the ALCS. Thankfully, there are a few options for getting TBS live streaming.
Sling TV offers TBS in both of its packages, so you can choose either the $20 Sling Orange or $25 per month Sling Blue package. The deciding factor will be which additional channels you want to have alongside TBS. You can test either of Sling TV’s packages out for a week with a 7-day free trial.
PlayStation Vue cuts out the thought process and offers TBS in its main starting package. But, the cost is a little higher at $29.99 per month. With the starting package you can watch nearly all of the playoff games, except for the ones on FOX if you don’t get it live in your area.
FOX Sports 1
All of the National League games not broadcast by FOX will be aired on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Once again, both Sling TV and PlayStation Vue offer live streaming access to FS1. Sling TV has it in its Sling Blue package for $25 per month. Signing up for PlayStation Vue’s $29.99 per month starting package will let you live stream FS1 all postseason long.
With so many great options, cord cutters can watch all the sorts they want. From the MLB Playoffs to the upcoming NHL season, get all the live sports you can handle!
