MLB Playoffs Schedule: Start Time, Channels, Where To Watch The MLB Playoffs For Free

Baseball. Is. Back.

Wait, sorry. Baseball’s been around for months. What I meant to say was: Postseason. Baseball. Is. Back. Eight teams compete in four best-of-three Wild Card Series, with the top two seeds in each league — the Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers, and Philadelphia Phillies — waiting in the wings.

The first round takes place Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with the best-of-five Divisional Series set to begin on Saturday, October 4. The best-of-seven American League Championship Series is scheduled to start on Sunday, October 12, with the National League Championship Series beginning on Monday, October 13.

Game 1 of the 2025 World Series takes place on Friday, October 24.

The NFL and college football are back, the NBA is on the horizon, and playoff baseball is about to begin. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show! Here’s how to watch the opening round of the MLB playoffs online.

When Do The MLB Playoffs Start?

The first round of the MLB playoffs begins Tuesday, September 30.

What Channel Are The MLB Playoffs On?

The best-of-three wild card matchups air on ESPN and ABC from Tuesday, September 30 to Thursday, October 2.

The best-of-five American and National League Division matchups start on Saturday, October 4. The AL games will air on FOX/FS1/Fox One, while the NL games will be broadcast on TBS/HBO Max.

The American League Championship Series (FOX/FS1) starts on Sunday, October 12, with the NLCS (TBS) beginning on Monday, October 13. Game 1 of the World Series takes place Friday, October 24 on FOX.

MLB Playoffs Schedule For September 30:

• Detroit Tigers @ Cleveland Guardians: 1:00 p.m. ET on ESPN
• San Diego Padres @ Chicago Cubs: 3:00 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN on ABC
• Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees: 6:00 p.m. ET on ESPN
• Cincinnati Reds @ Los Angeles Dodgers: 9:00 p.m. ET on ESPN

How To Watch The 2025 MLB Playoffs Online:

If you have a valid cable login, you can watch the MLB playoffs on ABC, ESPN, or the ABC website. One new option is ESPN’s Unlimited bundle, which includes ESPN, Hulu, and Disney+ for $29.99/month.

The only way to watch shows airing live without cable is by using a live TV streaming service. We recommend DIRECTV, which has a number of flexible subscription options starting at $49.99/month and comes with a five-day free trial.

You can also watch ABC or ESPN live with an active subscription to fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, or Sling TV. YouTube TV, fuboTV, and Hulu + Live TV offer free trials for new subscribers.

Can I Watch The MLB Playoffs on MLB.TV?

Yes. You can stream every postseason game live in the U.S. on MLB.TV, but you have to first authenticate your subscription through a participating TV provider (Verizon, Spectrum, Optimum, FuboTV, DIRECTV, and more). Available for $29.99, the streamer isn’t currently offering a free trial.