How to watch the MLB playoffs: 2023 postseason schedule

It’s playoff baseball time. For the second straight year, a dozen teams will appear in the postseason — an increase from the 10 teams of years past. Could the Orioles magic come through for the first time since 1983? Will the Atlanta Braves, the favorites to win it all, pull off their second win in three years? No matter what’s in store, it’s sure to be an eventful postseason you don’t want to miss.

If you’re planning out your playoff viewing schedule, we’ve got you covered. Even if you canceled your cable subscription a long time ago, there are plenty of ways you can tune in live. Here’s how to watch the MLB playoffs in 2023 so you don’t miss a pitch.

What is the MLB postseason schedule?

The MLB postseason schedule kicks off on Oct. 3 with four simultaneous greatest-of-three wild card series. The greatest-of-five AL and NL divisional series will follow on Oct. 7 with all four series playing on the same day. Games will be staggered going forward through Oct. 13 and 14, with the greatest-of-seven AL championship series beginning on Oct. 15 and the NL championship series beginning on Oct. 16 and running through the 23 and 24 (if necessary). Game 1 of the 2023 World Series will take place on Oct. 27. If a Game 7 is necessary to determine a champion, it will be held on Nov. 4.

Here’s a breakdown of the MLB playoffs schedule:

• AL Wild Card Series: Oct. 3-5 on ESPN

• NL Wild Card Series: Oct. 3-5 on ESPN

• AL Divisional Series: Oct. 7-13 on FOX, FS1

• NL Divisional Series: Oct. 7-14 on TBS

• AL Championship Series: Oct. 15-23 on FOX, FS1

• NL Championship Series: Oct. 16-24 on TBS

• World Series: Oct. 27-Nov. 4 on FOX

How can I watch the baseball playoffs?

Cable subscribers can watch the 2023 MLB postseason in its entirety on ESPN, Fox, FS1, and TBS. For those without cable access, you’ll either need to borrow a friend or family member’s cable login or subscribe to a live TV streaming service to tune into the action. If you can’t get your hands on a cable login to unlock access, don’t panic. We’ll show you how to watch the MLB playoffs without cable below.

For cord cutters, here are the greatest streaming services to watch the MLB playoffs — as well as the greatest steaming deals.

Greatest streaming services to watch the 2023 MLB playoffs

Greatest overall: YouTube TV

While many baseball fans had beef with YouTube TV during the regular season due to the lack of MLB Network on the streamer’s channel lineup, it makes up for it in the postseason. It offers a huge lineup of more than 100 live TV channels, including ESPN, TBS, Fox, and FS1 — all four networks you’ll need to watch the playoffs live.

YouTube TV also comes with unlimited DVR space, so you can record a game if you can’t tune in live. It’s one of our favorite sports streaming services and happens to be running a really good deal for a limited time. If you’re new to YouTube TV, you’ll get a free trial to test the waters for up to 14 days (trial period may vary). Then, you can choose to keep your subscription for an introductory rate of just $54.99/month for three months ($72.99/month thereafter) or cancel at anytime.

Most affordable live TV streaming service: Sling TV (Orange + Blue package)

Sling is a popular cable TV alternative for a reason — it’s actually affordable, especially compared to other options on this list. What we love about Sling is the ability to tweak channel options to create your own lineup. In order to watch the MLB playoffs, you’ll need the Orange and Blue packages that Sling TV offers, which regularly retail for $55/month. However, Sling is currently offering 50% off for your first month, so you can snag both package for only $27.50/month to kick things off.

Don’t want to keep Sling after the champions are crowned? Cancel with no strings attached.

Greatest live TV streaming deal: Hulu + Live TV

While we love Hulu for its massive streaming library, we also appreciate that its Live TV channel lineup is well-rounded. Through Oct. 11, you can get three months of Hulu + Live TV for only $49.99/month instead of $69.99/month. The lineup features over 90 live and on-demand channels, including Fox, FS1, TBS, and ESPN. Not to mention, when you subscribe, you also get access to the entire Hulu library, Disney+ library, and ESPN+ library (including live games). After your first three months, the price will jump back up to $69.99/month, so be sure to cancel ahead of time if you don’t want to be charged full price.

Honorable mention: FuboTV

FuboTV is one of the greatest cable TV alternatives for sports lovers, with the most robust lineup of channels for everything from college football to European soccer. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer TBS, which means you won’t be able to watch the National League Divisional Series or Championship Series. It’s also a bit pricier than other services at $74.99/month, but you do get a seven-day free trial to test things out before pulling the trigger long term. It may not be the greatest option for watching the 2023 MLB playoffs and World Series, but FuboTV does have a lot to offer the rest of the year.