Mets vs. Red Sox: How to watch MLB games this week without cable

Baseball is still our country's pastime, but these days, watching America's national sport is a whole new ballgame — and not just because of the rule changes in the 2023 MLB season. With games split among cable, streaming and regional sports networks, plus local restrictions and blackouts added into the mix, keeping up with your favorite team can be hit or miss unless you’re willing to shell out for a pricey cable package (and even then, you might get hit with blackouts).

But don’t worry, we’re stepping up to the plate. Here’s every MLB game you can stream this week without paying for cable, your local RSN or MLB Network, including this Fourth of July's baseball game: Angels vs. Padres on TBS.

This week is jam-packed with games you can watch without having to find your regional sports network or paying for a pricey baseball package. Starting with Tuesday's Twins vs. Braves game on TBS and ending with Sunday Night Baseball's Yankees vs. Red Sox game over on ESPN. Plus, you can stream two Friday Night Baseball games over on Apple TV+, and don't forget about MLB Sunday Leadoff on Peacock.

Want to make sure you have your bases covered headed into this week of MLB? Here’s how to watch or stream MLB this weekend without cable.

How to watch MLB on TBS

Date: July 18, 2023

Time: 7:05 p.m. ET

Game: Dodgers vs. Orioles

TV: TBS

MLB on TBS broadcasts baseball games on Tuesday nights. This week's game is the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Baltimore Orioles. Don’t regularly tune into TBS or aren’t sure if you have that channel? Here’s our recommendation for how to watch MLB on TBS:

(AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Sling TV

Starting at just $15 for your first month, Sling TV's Orange tier offers TBS, ESPN and 29 other channels. A Sling subscription also includes 50 hours of free DVR storage, so if you’re worried about missing any of the MLB action, you can always record your games.

$15 at Sling

How to watch Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+

Date: July 21, 2023

Time: 2:20 p.m. ET, 6:40 p.m. ET

Games: Cardinals vs. Cubs, Padres vs. Tigers

Streaming: Apple TV+

This upcoming Friday Night Baseball will feature an afternoon game and an evening game: the St. Louis Cardinals at the Chicago Cubs at 2:20 p.m. and the San Diego Padres at the Detroit Tigers at 6:40 p.m. Friday Night Baseball streams exclusively on Apple TV+, and while last year’s games were open to non-subscribers, this season FNB is a paid-subscriber event only.

(Photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Apple TV+

Stream Friday Night Baseball games

Friday Night Baseball features two games every week, now exclusively on Apple TV+. Subscribers to the Apple streaming platform can watch marquee baseball games every Friday, free from local broadcast restrictions, plus access to a 24/7 livestream with MLB game replays, news and analysis, highlights and classic games, and MLB Big Inning, a live show with highlights and look-ins airing every weeknight during the 2023 regular season. Apart from baseball, Apple TV+ offers tons of original shows including Ted Lasso, The Crowded Room, Hijack and Silo, plus movies like Ghosted, CODA, Tetris and more. An Apple TV+ subscription costs $7 per month. The platform offers a one week free trial period for new users, and three months of Apple TV+ free with the purchase of an eligible Apple device.

$7 at Apple TV+

How to watch Baseball Night in America (AKA MLB on Fox)

Date: July 22, 2023

Time: 7:15 p.m. ET

Games: Braves vs. Brewers, White Sox vs. Twins

TV: Fox

Baseball Night in America (Fox's Saturday night MLB schedule) includes two games this week: The Atlanta Braves vs. the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago White Sox vs. the Minnesota Twins — both at 7:15 p.m.

If you already have Fox through your cable package, digital satellite, old-school TV antenna or live TV subscription, then you should be set to watch baseball on Fox this weekend (barring any regional restrictions). If you don’t have access to Fox, here’s our recommendation for where to stream the sports-heavy channel:

(Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Hulu + Live TV

For $70 per month, Hulu’s live TV bundle (with ads) will get you access to Fox (make sure to check your zip code to confirm eligibility) along with 84 other live and on-demand channels including TBS and ESPN. Plus, this bundle gets you a subscription to ESPN+, Disney+ and, of course, access to Hulu’s general content library. Hulu’s live TV plans also include unlimited DVR storage, a hardware-free set-up process and easy online cancellation.

$70 at Hulu

Check channels

How to watch MLB Sunday Leadoff on Peacock

Date: July 23, 2023

Time: 12:05 p.m.

Game: Padres vs. Tigers

Streaming: Peacock

Peacock's exclusive MLB Sunday Leadoff will feature 19 weekend games this season. This Sunday, it's the San Diego Padres vs. the Detroit Tigers.

(Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Peacock

A $5 monthly Peacock subscription is all you'll need to watch “MLB Sunday Leadoff” every weekend. On top of access to the Peacock exclusive MLB event, the streaming platform is the easiest way to stream most live sports and events airing on NBC. You’ll also get access to thousands of hours of shows and movies, including beloved sitcoms such as “Parks and Recreation” and “The Office” and even recent theatrical releases like “Cocaine Bear” and “M3GAN.” For $10 monthly you can upgrade to an ad-free subscription which includes live access to your local NBC Channel (not just during designated sports and events) and the ability to download select titles to watch offline.

$5 at Peacock

How to watch Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN

Date: July 9, 2023

Time: 7 p.m.

Game: Mets vs. Red Sox

TV: ESPN

ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball offers a game to national audiences nearly every week. This week, the Sunday Night Baseball game is the New York Mets at the Boston Red Sox.

How to watch MLB on ESPN+

ESPN+ will stream one out-of-market game every day of this season (blackout restrictions apply).

(Photo: ESPN+)

ESPN+

Stream one out-of-market game every day of this season (blackout restrictions apply)

This season, ESPN+ is streaming a live baseball game every day. So if you don't want to pay for a pricey cable or streaming package to watch baseball, this is one budget-friendly alternative. An ESPN+ subscription grants you access to exclusive ESPN+ content including live events like UFC Fight Night and F1 races, fantasy sports tools and premium ESPN+ articles. You can stream ESPN+ through an app on your smart TV, phone, tablet, computer and on ESPN.com.

$9.99 per month at ESPN