When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
Luke Hales/Getty Images
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 began over the weekend and will continue through Saturday at the very latest. The Mets have so far eliminated the Philadelphia Phillies. The Detroit Tigers lead 2-1 over the Cleveland Guardians, the New York Yankees lead 2-1 over the Kansas City Royals, and the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers are tied up 2-2.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
