How to Watch the MLB Wild Card Series Without Cable
The race for the National League Wild Card concluded in dramatic fashion following the New York Mets doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves. The Arizona Diamondbacks’ fate hung in the balance as they watched from the sidelines, needing one of the teams to sweep in order to advance.
The Mets clinched an 8-7 win in the first game, and the Braves beat the Mets 3-0 in the second game, shutting the D-Backs out. The Mets and Braves will join the Padres to round out the NL Wild Card.
At a Glance: How to Watch The MLB Wild Card
- Stream: DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling
- TV Channel: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2
- Dates: Oct 1 – Oct 3
The Wild Card matchups on the American League side consist of the Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, and Detroit Tigers. The New York Yankees sit atop the AL leaderboard, while the Los Angeles Dodgers lead the NL.
The Wild Card games kick off today with the AL League. The Detroit Tigers are facing off against the Astros in Houston, followed by Kansas City at Baltimore, New York at Milwaukee, and Atlanta at San Diego. Fans can catch the entire postseason lineup at the MLB website.
How To Watch The MLB Wild Card Series Online
The earlier Wild Card games, starting at 2:30, will be carried by ABC, while the later games will be carried by ESPN or ESPN2. That means the best way to catch all of the action live is with a live TV streaming service, such as DirecTV Stream or Fubo.
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream carries ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 in its most affordable package, the Entertainment package. You can save $10/mo, dropping the price to $59.99/mo. DirecTV also offers a five-day free trial.
FuboTV
Fubo‘s live-streaming service is particularly popular with sports fans, and includes dedicated channels for different MLB teams. Fubo also includes ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC. Channels start at $79.99/mo, with $49.99/mo for the first month after a 7-day free trial.
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu with a Live TV add-on is a great option for sports fans and families, as you’ll get access to Hulu, ESPN+, and Disney+, plus a wide array of cable and antenna channels. Hulu offers a 3-day free trial, and plans start at $76.99/mo.
Sling
Though its offerings are smaller, Sling offers one of the best values for sports fans looking for an affordable live streaming package. You’ll need to add both the blue and orange packages if you want ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 together. The Orange and Blue package costs $60, or $35 for the first month. However, Sling does not have a free trial.
What Is the MLB Wild Card Series?
The Wild Card system has been tweaked several times since its inception, so even MLB fans may be confused as to how it works. The current iteration has been in place since 2022. The Wild Card consists of six teams, three from the American League and three from the National League. In the best-of-three match-up, the higher-seeded team will host each game. This replaced the previous format, which was a single Wild Card Game.
MLB Wild Card Series Schedule
Whether you want to catch all of the action, or just want to tune into your favorite team, you can see the full Wild Card schedule below. The Wild Card games are played as a best-of-three, so Thursday’s games will only be played if necessary.
Wild Card Games on Tuesday, October 1
- Detroit at Houston, 2:32 PM ET, ABC
- Kansas City at Baltimore, 4:08 PM ET, ESPN2
- New York Mets at Milwaukee, 5:32 PM ET, ESPN
- Atlanta at San Diego, 8:38 PM ET, ESPN
Wild Card Games on Wednesday, October 2
- Detroit at Houston, 2:32 PM ET, ABC
- Kansas City at Baltimore, 4:38 PM ET, ESPN
- New York Mets at Milwaukee, 7:38 PM ET, ESPN
- Atlanta at San Diego, 8:38 PM ET, ESPN2
Wild Card Games on Thursday, October 3
- Detroit at Houston, 2:32 PM ET, ABC (If necessary)
- Kansas City at Baltimore, 4:08 PM ET, ESPN (If necessary)
- New York Mets at Milwaukee, 7:08 PM ET, ESPN (If necessary)
- Atlanta at San Diego, 8:38 PM ET, ESPN2 (If necessary)