The 2025 Major League Baseball (MLB) season is in full swing, and with 30 teams playing 162 games each, fans are eager to catch every pitch, home run, and stolen base. Streaming MLB games has become the go-to option for cord-cutters and fans on the go, offering flexibility and access to games without the need for a traditional cable subscription. However, navigating the complex landscape of MLB live streaming can be daunting due to blackout restrictions, regional sports networks (RSNs), and the variety of platforms available. This comprehensive guide reviews the top platforms for streaming MLB games in 2025, focusing on accessibility, features, and value, ensuring you never miss a moment of the action.
Why Stream MLB Games in 2025?
Streaming MLB games offers unparalleled convenience, allowing fans to watch games on smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and gaming consoles. With the collapse of the traditional regional sports network model, MLB has expanded its streaming options, reducing blackout restrictions for many teams and offering in-market streaming for local fans. Platforms like MLB.TV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and others provide robust solutions, but each comes with its own strengths and limitations. This article dives into the best platforms, their features, pricing, and how they cater to baseball fans’ needs in 2025.
Top Platforms for MLB Live Streaming in 2025
1. MLB.TV: The Ultimate Baseball Streaming Service
Overview: MLB.TV remains the gold standard for baseball fans, offering comprehensive coverage of out-of-market games and select in-market games for the 2025 season. It’s an OG streaming service, predating platforms like YouTube and Netflix for live video streaming, and it’s evolved significantly to meet modern demands.
Features:
- Coverage: Streams every out-of-market regular-season game live or on-demand, plus access to MLB Network 24/7 (U.S. only). For 2025, MLB.TV includes in-market streaming for 10 teams, including the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres, and San Francisco Giants, with no blackout restrictions for these teams in their home television territories.
- Resolution: Many games stream in 1080p, a step up from the previous 720p standard, offering sharper images and a more immersive experience.
- Additional Content: Includes live Minor League Baseball (MiLB) games, MLB Big Inning, live audio for all 30 teams, and original programming like MLB Tonight and MLB Central.
- Multi-Device Support: Available on mobile platforms (Android, iOS), streaming devices (Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku), and gaming consoles (PlayStation, Xbox).
- Unique Features: Four-screen multiview, clickable linescores, pitch-by-pitch tracking, live game DVR, and a catch-up feature (on fourth-generation Apple TV) that provides a 90-second rundown of key plays.
Pricing:
- All Teams Yearly: $149.99 for the season and offseason, including MLB Network.
- Monthly Package: $29.99/month through October 2025, with the flexibility to cancel anytime.
- Single Team Package: $129.99 for the season, focusing on your favorite team’s out-of-market games.
- In-Market Plans: $20–$30/month for select teams, combinable with out-of-market plans for $40/month or $200/season.
Pros:
- Comprehensive coverage of out-of-market games.
- Enhanced video quality with 1080p streaming.
- Free Game of the Day and MiLB access included.
- No blackout restrictions for international subscribers (except Blue Jays games in Canada).
Cons:
- National broadcasts (ESPN, Fox, FS1, TBS, Apple TV+) are blacked out, requiring additional subscriptions.
- In-market streaming is limited to 10 teams, leaving fans of teams like the Houston Astros with blackout issues.
- Requires a VPN to bypass blackout restrictions in some cases.
Best For: Die-hard baseball fans who want access to every out-of-market game and are willing to navigate blackout restrictions with a VPN if needed.
2. Hulu + Live TV: A Well-Rounded Option for Baseball and Beyond
Overview: Hulu + Live TV is a versatile streaming service that combines live sports, news, and entertainment with an extensive on-demand library. It’s an excellent choice for fans who want MLB games alongside other programming.
Features:
- Channels: Includes ESPN, Fox, FS1, TBS, and select RSNs like SportsNet, YES Network, and NBC Sports, covering many MLB games.
- DVR: Offers an Enhanced Cloud DVR with 200 hours of storage at no extra cost, perfect for recording games to watch later.
- Streaming Quality: Supports 1080p/60fps for live streams on select platforms and 1080p for on-demand content.
- ESPN+ Bundle: Hulu + Live TV subscribers get access to ESPN+ for additional baseball content, including college baseball, Little League games, and classic MLB archives.
- Device Support: Compatible with smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and streaming devices like Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV.
Pricing:
- Starts at $76.99/month, including Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+.
- Unlimited Screens add-on ($9.99/month) allows unlimited streams at home and three mobile streams when away.
Pros:
- Broad channel lineup, including national and regional sports networks.
- Unlimited Cloud DVR for recording games.
- Access to ESPN+ for extra baseball content.
- User-friendly interface with a live TV guide.
Cons:
- More expensive than standalone MLB.TV.
- Blackout restrictions apply for local and national games.
- Does not include MLB Network without an additional subscription.
Best For: Fans who want a single service for MLB games, other sports, and entertainment, especially those in markets with supported RSNs.
3. YouTube TV: Great for Recording and Family Sharing
Overview: YouTube TV is a robust live TV streaming service with a strong sports lineup, making it a solid choice for MLB fans who value DVR capabilities and multi-user support.
Features:
- Channels: Includes Fox, ESPN, FS1, and select RSNs like YES Network and NBC Sports, but it recently lost MLB Network.
- DVR: Unlimited cloud DVR storage with recordings kept for nine months, ideal for catching up on games.
- Streaming: Supports 1080p live streaming and up to three simultaneous device streams.
- Add-Ons: Sports Plus package ($11/month) adds NFL RedZone and FOX Soccer Plus, but no MLB-specific channels.
- Device Support: Available on mobile devices, streaming devices, and smart TVs.
Pricing:
- Base plan: $72.99/month.
- Sports Plus add-on: $11/month.
Pros:
- Unlimited DVR storage for recording multiple games.
- Supports six user accounts, great for families.
- High-quality 1080p streaming.
- Broad RSN coverage for local games.
Cons:
- Loss of MLB Network reduces baseball-specific content.
- Blackout restrictions for local and national games.
- Slightly cheaper than Hulu + Live TV but lacks ESPN+ bundle.
Best For: Families or fans who want to record games and share accounts, especially in markets with RSN coverage.
4. Peacock: Exclusive Sunday Morning Baseball
Overview: Peacock, in partnership with NBC, offers an exclusive Sunday morning MLB package, making it a niche but valuable option for fans of select games.
Features:
- Coverage: Streams exclusive Sunday morning games, the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, and classic MLB games and documentaries.
- Streaming Quality: Supports 1080p streaming with minimal buffering.
- Device Support: Available on mobile devices, streaming devices, and smart TVs.
- Additional Content: Offers a mix of sports, movies, and TV shows, but the free tier does not include live baseball.
Pricing:
- Premium: $5.99/month (with ads).
- Premium Plus: $11.99/month (ad-free, with offline downloads).
Pros:
- Exclusive Sunday morning MLB games.
- Affordable pricing.
- Access to additional sports and entertainment content.
Cons:
- Limited to Sunday morning games and select events.
- No comprehensive MLB coverage.
- Free tier excludes live baseball.
Best For: Casual fans who want affordable access to Sunday games and other Peacock content.
5. Apple TV+: Friday Night Baseball
Overview: Apple TV+ offers exclusive Friday Night Baseball, streaming two games every Friday night during the 2025 season, with the first 12 weeks free for all viewers.
Features:
- Coverage: Two exclusive MLB games every Friday night, available nationally.
- Streaming Quality: High-quality 1080p streams with no lag.
- Device Support: Available on phones, tablets, game consoles, smart TVs, and streaming devices.
- Free Access: First 12 weeks of Friday Night Baseball are free, no subscription required.
Pricing:
- $9.99/month after the free period, with a 7-day free trial.
Pros:
- Free access to Friday games for the first 12 weeks.
- High-quality streaming experience.
- No blackout restrictions for Friday games.
Cons:
- Limited to two games per week.
- Requires subscription after the free period.
- Not a comprehensive MLB solution.
Best For: Fans who want free access to select Friday games and enjoy Apple TV+’s original content.
6. Fubo: Sports-Centric Streaming
Overview: Fubo is a sports-focused streaming service that provides access to many MLB games through national and regional channels, making it a great choice for cord-cutters.
Features:
- Channels: Includes ESPN, Fox, FS1, MLB Network, and RSNs like SportsNet, YES Network, and NBC Sports.
- DVR: Offers 1,000 hours of cloud DVR storage.
- Streaming: Supports 4K streaming for select content and up to 10 simultaneous streams at home.
- Device Support: Compatible with streaming devices, smart TVs, and mobile platforms.
Pricing:
- Starts at $74.99/month with a 5-day free trial.
- Add-ons like MLB Network Strike Zone available for extra cost.
Pros:
- Extensive sports channel lineup, including MLB Network.
- Generous DVR storage and simultaneous streams.
- 4K streaming for select games.
Cons:
- More expensive than some competitors.
- No TBS, which carries some MLB games.
- Blackout restrictions apply.
Best For: Sports enthusiasts who want a comprehensive live TV package with strong MLB coverage.
7. Free Streaming Options
Overview: For budget-conscious fans, free streaming options exist, though they come with caveats like ads, variable quality, and legal concerns.
Options:
- MLB.TV Free Game of the Day: One free MLB game daily, accessible with a free MLB.com account. Blackout restrictions apply, but a VPN can bypass them.
- MLB Sunday Leadoff on The Roku Channel: One free Sunday game per week, no subscription or device required.
- TV Antenna: Free over-the-air channels like Fox for major events like the All-Star Game and World Series, though channel availability varies by location.
- Social Media Streams: MLB occasionally streams select games on its Facebook and YouTube pages, but quality and availability are inconsistent.
Pros:
- No cost for select games.
- Accessible on multiple devices.
- Roku Channel’s Sunday games are high quality and blackout-free.
Cons:
- Limited game selection.
- Unverified platforms (e.g., MLB66, MLBStreams) may have ads, pop-ups, or legal risks.
- Blackout restrictions for MLB.TV’s Free Game of the Day.
Best For: Fans looking to watch select games for free, especially with a VPN to bypass blackouts.
Navigating Blackout Restrictions
Blackout restrictions remain a significant hurdle for MLB streaming, particularly for local and national broadcasts. Local games are often blacked out on MLB.TV due to RSN agreements, and national games on ESPN, Fox, FS1, TBS, or Apple TV+ are also unavailable on MLB.TV. However, 2025 has seen progress, with 10 teams offering in-market streaming on MLB.TV without blackouts. For other teams, fans can use a VPN like Surfshark or Private Internet Access (PIA) to connect to a server outside their team’s blackout zone, allowing access to restricted games. Always use caution with unverified free streaming sites, as they may pose security risks.
Tips for Choosing the Right Platform
- Die-Hard Fans: MLB.TV is the best choice for comprehensive out-of-market coverage, especially with its in-market options for select teams.
- Casual Fans: Peacock or Apple TV+ offer affordable, limited MLB coverage alongside other content.
- Families: YouTube TV’s unlimited DVR and multi-user support make it ideal for shared households.
- Sports Enthusiasts: Fubo’s sports-centric approach and extensive channel lineup cater to fans of multiple sports.
- Budget-Conscious Fans: Rotate free trials (Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Apple TV+) or use free options like MLB.TV’s Free Game of the Day and Roku’s Sunday Leadoff.
Conclusion
The 2025 MLB season offers more streaming options than ever, with platforms like MLB.TV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Peacock, Apple TV+, and Fubo catering to diverse fan needs. MLB.TV stands out for its comprehensive coverage and improved in-market options, while Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV offer broad channel lineups and DVR capabilities. Peacock and Apple TV+ provide affordable, niche MLB content, and Fubo is perfect for sports enthusiasts. Free options like MLB.TV’s Free Game of the Day and Roku’s Sunday Leadoff are great for budget-conscious fans, though they require careful navigation of blackouts and legal considerations. By choosing the right platform based on your preferences, location, and budget, you can enjoy every moment of the 2025 MLB season, from Opening Day to the World Series.