GoKawiilRobot umpires have yet to arrive, but the 2026 Major League Baseball season will usher in the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System that will allow players to challenge calls made by the human umpire behind the plate.
Finding a simple, straightforward way to watch your favorite team's games is also a challenge this season. And there's no automated system to which you can appeal that can you make the right call about the various streaming services you'll need to watch baseball. As a fan, I've done the work to uncover the best ways to watch your team's games this season, no matter where your fandom lies.
For the first time, every MLB team offers a direct-to-consumer, in-market streaming service without any blackout restrictions. With the collapse of the Regional Sports Network (RSN) model, Major League Baseball has taken over the streaming rights of 22 of the 30 MLB clubs. And the remaining eight offer their own in-market streaming plans. Pricing varies by team but you are looking at $20-$30 per month or $100-$200 for the season.
If you were hoping to watch your team's games on the same TV channel as in past years as part of your cable or satellite TV package or a live TV streaming service, your mileage may vary. In some cases, the in-market streaming plan replaces the local RSN that previously broadcasted your team's games. Many teams have yet to announce which TV channel will show their games and on which providers, even at this late date on the eve of the start of the season.
Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers are favorites again this year to win the World Series. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
For fans who don't live in the local market of their favorite team, the best option is the same as it has been for years: MLB.TV for $30 per month or $150 for the season. And for serious fans, most teams let you combine the single team in-market plan with the out-of-market MLB.TV plan at a discount.
Other changes for the 2026 MLB season: Sunday Night Baseball has moved from ESPN to NBC and Peacock. And Netflix is getting in on the national pastime and will show a couple games, starting with the opening night game between the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants.
Since baseball is more of a regional sport where fans watch their favorite team's games day in and day out more than they gather around the TV on certain nights for national broadcasts, I've organized this MLB viewing guide by division so you can find your favorite team and see the best ways to watch or stream its games.
How to watch MLB 2026: Team-by-team guide
We'll start in the National League before getting to the Junior Circuit. Here are the in-market streaming plans for each team, grouped by division. I've also included information about where you can watch your team's games on a local TV channel, where available. Many teams are still working out the details in this post-RSN era and have yet to announce their local TV broadcast plans for the season.
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