It’s finally October, and you know what that means. If you want to watch the MLB playoffs online in their entirety, you’re going to need a live TV streaming package that offers ESPN, TBS, FS1, MLB Network, and Fox, which is exclusively hosting the 2018 World Series. Thankfully, you have options. We’ve included a complete TV schedule of 2018 MLB playoff games through the World Series below, so you’ll now what you need and when to watch, regardless of who you’re cheering for. Here’s everything you need to stream the MLB playoffs.
MLB playoffs 2018 live stream: 6 ways to watch online
1) Hulu with Live TV
- Cost: $40 per month
- Devices: Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, and iOS and Android devices
- Local channels: Yes. (Check your local availability here.)
Hulu with Live TV doesn’t provide a way to watch MLB Network, but it has all the rest of the essentials for streaming the MLB playoffs and World Series—and then some. The 40-plus channel package includes a full suite of ESPN channels, CNN, TBS, and Cartoon Network—and complimentary access to Hulu’s full on-demand catalog. (You can find the full list of Hulu Live TV channels and add-ons here.)
Game-changing feature: Every subscription comes with free access to Hulu’s on-demand library, meaning you can catch up on all of your favorite shows. (Here are our picks best movies on Hulu, Hulu documentaries, anime, and the must-see Hulu originals.)
CLICK HERE FOR FREE 7 DAY TRIAL OF HULU LIVE TV
2) FuboTV
- Cost: $44.99 for your first month and $54.99 per month thereafter (with a seven-day free trial)
- Devices: Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Android TV, iOS and Android devices
- Local channels: Yes. (Check local availability here.)
FuboTV, a sports-centric streaming service, has one glaring hole in its channel offerings: the ESPN network. But if you don’t mind missing the Wild Card round and plan on watching the National League Division Series via FS1 and not the MLB Network, FuboTV will still get the job done—and it’s the only service that offers FS1 in 4K. Plus, you get plenty of other sports channels once the World Series is over, including NFL Network, NBA TV, NBCSN, the Pac-12 Network, and plenty more. (Here’s the complete list of FuboTV channels and add-ons.)
Game-changing feature: Three-day replay for games and 30 hours of cloud DVR.
GET A 7 DAY FREE TRIAL OF FUBO TV HERE
3) Sling TV
- Cost: $25-$40 per month
- Devices: Amazon Fire TVs, Android Fire Stick, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Xbox One, Google Chromecast, and iOS and Android devices
- Local channels: Yes. (Check your local availability here.)
Sling TV is usually the cheapest option for streaming entertainment, but not in this case. In order to get both FS1 and the ESPN channels, you’ll have to upgrade to Sling Orange + Blue (shown below) for $40 per month, and even then, you won’t get MLB Network (and it’s not available as an add-on). That said, there’s still a lot to love about Sling TV. It offers almost all of your cable essentials (AMC, FX, Fox News, MSNBC, CNN), and it’s one of the easiest services to use. (You can find a full list of Sling TV channels here.)
Game-changing feature: Price. Sling TV offers the most news for the least amount of money.
GET A 7 DAY FREE TRIAL OF SLING TV HERE
4) YouTube TV
- Cost: $40 per month
- Devices: Google Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Xbox One, iOS and Android devices
- Local channels: Yes. (Enter your zip code here to check your availability.)
As the returning sponsor of the World Series, it makes sense that YouTube TV is one of the best ways to stream the MLB playoffs. Its channel package (there’s only one option) includes everything you’ll need: FS1, TBS, ESPN, and even MLB Network, but you’ll want to double check that Fox is available in your area. If it’s not, you can still use your subscription credentials with the Fox Sports Go app and stream from there. Plus you get all sorts of other great sports channels, including Big Ten Network, NBC’s Golf Channel, and NBCSN, SEC Network Extra, and NBA TV. (Here’s a breakdown of the full YouTube TV channel lineup.)
Game-changing feature: You can add up to six accounts per household, and each one of those accounts get unlimited cloud DVR. Even better: You can fast-forward through ads in recorded programs.
5) PlayStation Vue
- Cost: $49.99-$79.99 per month
- Devices: PlayStation 3 and 4, Roku, Amazon Fire, Google Chromecast, Kodi, iOS and Android devices
- Local channels: Yes. (Enter your zip code here to check your availability.)
To include MLB Network in your channel package, you’ll have to upgrade to Core, one of four tiers of service PlayStation Vue offers. (Its entry-level Access package is only $5 cheaper, at $44.99 per month.) That’ll ensure you’re able to watch every single game of the 2018 MLB playoffs online, and you’ll have unlimited cloud DVR in case you need to record one of them to watch later. With PlayStation Vue, you’ll get many of the same channels featured above, along with Disney, Syfy and more. You can see the full list of PlayStation Vue channels here.
Game-changing feature: You can stream on up to five devices at once, and there’s unlimited cloud DVR.
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6) Fox Sports Go
Cost: Free to download
Devices: Apple TV, iPad, Android TV, Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Amazon Kindle, Roku, iOS and Android devices (full list here)
If you’re going to be on the move for any portion of the 2018 MLB playoffs, you should really consider downloading the Fox Sports Go app. Not only will it allow you to live stream all of the games from FS1 and those airing on your local Fox affiliate, it unlocks all of the Fox channels that are available via your cable or live TV streaming package above, like FS2, Fox College Sports, and Fox Deportes. It’s an intuitive, fluid app, compatible with most streaming devices, and absolutely worth downloading as a backup plan.
MLB playoff schedule 2018
We’ll update this MLB playoff schedule for 2018 as teams advance. All times are ET.
Wild Card round
Tuesday, Oct. 2, 8pm: Colorado Rockies at Chicago Cubs | ESPN
Wednesday, Oct. 2, 8pm: Oakland Athletics at New York Yankees | ESPN
National League Division Series
Thursday, Oct. 4: Colorado Rockies at Milwaukee Brewers, Game 1 | FS1 or MLB Network
Thursday, Oct. 4: Atlanta Braves at Los Angeles Dodgers, Game 1 | FS1 or MLB Network
Friday, Oct. 5: Colorado Rockies at Milwaukee Brewers, Game 2 | FS1 or MLB Network
Friday, Oct. 5: Atlanta Braves at Los Angeles Dodgers, Game 2 | FS1 or MLB Network
Sunday, Oct. 7: Milwaukee Brewers atColorado Rockies/Chicago Cubs, Game 3 | FS1 or MLB Network
Sunday, Oct. 7: Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves, Game 3 | FS1 or MLB Network
Monday, Oct. 8: Milwaukee Brewers at Colorado Rockies, Game 4* | FS1
Monday, Oct. 8: Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves, Game 4* | FS1
Wednesday, Oct. 10: Colorado Rockies at Milwaukee Brewers, Game 5* | FS1
Wednesday, Oct. 10: Atlanta Braves at Los Angeles Dodgers, Game 5* | FS1
American League Division Series
Friday, Oct. 5: New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox, Game 1, TBS
Friday, Oct. 5: Cleveland Indians at Houston Astros, Game 1, TBS
Saturday, Oct. 6: New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox, Game 2, TBS
Saturday, Oct. 6: Cleveland Indians at Houston Astros, Game 2, TBS
Monday, Oct. 8: Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees, Game 3, TBS
Monday, Oct. 8: Houston Astros at Cleveland Indians, Game 3, TBS
Tuesday, Oct. 9: Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees* | Game 4, TBS
Tuesday, Oct. 9: Houston Astros at Cleveland Indians* | Game 4, TBS
Thursday, Oct. 11: New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox* | Game 5, TBS
Thursday, Oct. 11: Cleveland Indians at Houston Astros* | Game 5, TBS
National League Championship Series
Friday, Oct. 12: NLCS Game 1, Fox or FS1
Saturday, Oct. 13: NLCS Game 2 | Fox or FS1
Monday, Oct. 15: NLCS Game 3 | Fox or FS1
Tuesday, Oct. 16: NLCS Game 4 | Fox or FS1
Wednesday, Oct. 17: NLCS Game 5* | Fox or FS1
Friday, Oct. 19: NLCS Game 6* | Fox or FS1
Saturday, Oct. 20: NLCS Game 7* | Fox or FS1
American League Championship Series
Saturday, Oct. 13: ALCS Game 1 | TBS
Sunday, Oct. 14: ALCS Game 2 | TBS
Tuesday, Oct. 16: ALCS Game 3 | TBS
Wednesday, Oct. 17: ALCS Game 4 | TBS
Thursday, Oct. 18: ALCS Game 5* | TBS
Saturday, Oct. 20: ALCS Game 6* | TBS
Saturday, Oct. 21: ALCS Game 7* | TBS
World Series
Tuesday, Oct. 23: Game 1 | Fox
Wednesday, Oct. 24: Game 2 | Fox
Friday, Oct. 26: Game 3 | Fox
Saturday, Oct. 27: Game 4 | Fox
Sunday, Oct. 28: Game 5* | Fox
Tuesday, Oct. 30: Game 6* | Fox
Wednesday, Oct. 31: Game 7* |Fox
* If necessary
New to cord-cutting? Here are our picks for the best movie streaming sites of 2018 and free live TV apps and channels. If you’re looking for a specific channel, here’s how to watch HBO, Showtime, Starz, ESPN, AMC, FX, Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, FS1, Golf Channel, and NFL RedZone without cable, as well as free movies on YouTube.
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