After getting off to an early start with the Dodgers vs Padres Seoul games, it's time for the official opening day of the 2024 MLB season. On Thursday, March 28, all 30 MLB clubs were scheduled to step up to the plate and play (two games have since been rescheduled due to rain). While the majority of MLB's 15 Opening Day games will be broadcast on regional sports networks, you can watch the Chicago Cubs vs. Texas Rangers game at 7:35 PM ET and broadcast nationally on ESPN (plus two games on MLB Network). Are you ready to watch the 2024 MLB season? Here's what you need to know about setting it up all Opening Day game, including times, channels, full game schedule, local blackout restriction solutions, and more.
How to watch MLB Opening Day:
date: Thursday 28 March
TV channel: ESPN, MLB Network, RSNs
flow: Live stream tv, MLB.TV
When is MLB open in 2024?
Following a two-game Dodgers-Padres series in Seoul, South Korea, the 2024 Major League Baseball season begins in earnest on Thursday, March 28, with two Opening Day games pushed to Friday now due to weather.
What is Baseball Channel in 2024?
Currently, MLB games are televised nationally on a combination of FOX, FS1, TBS, ESPN, ABC and MLB Network. The streaming platform, Apple TV+, is the exclusive home for Friday Night Baseball again this year.
Of course, for games that are not broadcast nationally, there are always Regional Sports Networks (RSNs). Unfortunately, the majority of MLB Opening Day games will be broadcast only on RSNs. So, if you want to listen to a game that's not broadcast on your local RSN, you might want to try an MLB.TV subscription (which offers a free trial)
How to watch MLB games without cable:
(MLB.TV)
If you want to watch the most games on Opening Day, MLB.TV is the way to go. For $29.99 per month or $149.99 for the entire year, you can stream every out-of-market MLB game live — except for nationally televised games, you'll still need another streaming service for those games. You'll also have access to every MLB match replay. You can try MLB.TV for free before committing to the platform.
- Stream every game out of the market
- There are no nationally televised matches
(Direct TV)
DirecTV's Choice tier will give you the essential channels for the 2024 MLB season, including Fox, FS1, TBS, ABC and MLB Network. Right now, they're offering a month of Sports Pack add-on (normally $14.99 per month) free when you sign up, plus three free months of Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, STARZ, MGM+, and Cinemax. The Choice tier typically starts at $109 per month, but you can get the first three months for $99 per month.
DirecTV also includes plenty of local and sports channels. Every DirecTV subscriber, regardless of level, has access to unlimited cloud DVR. You can try DirecTV for free before committing to the platform.
- Access local RSNs
- A free month of adding the Sports Pack
- Three free months of Max and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, STARZ, MGM+, and Cinemax
- Most expensive subscription option
How to stream MLB games:
(Michael Reeves/Getty Images)
Friday night baseball Featuring two games each week, exclusively on Apple TV+. Subscribers to Apple's streaming platform can watch premium baseball games every Friday, without local streaming restrictions, plus access to 24/7 live streaming with replays of MLB games, news, analysis, highlights, classic games, and MLB Big Inninga live show with highlights and looks airing every weekend night during the 2024 regular season. Aside from baseball, Apple TV+ offers plenty of original shows including Ted Lasso, Crowded room, to kidnap And siloin addition to films such as ghost, Coda, Tetris And more. An Apple TV+ subscription costs $9.99 per month. The platform offers a one-week free trial for new users, and three months of free Apple TV+ with the purchase of an eligible Apple device.
How to watch a dark MLB game:
Have you subscribed to MLB.TV and are upset because you can't watch your local team's games without adding an expensive live TV subscription to your tab? We have a hack for you. Since MLB.TV uses your streaming device's IP address to determine whether or not to watch a game, you can still stream local baseball games through MLB.TV with the help of a VPN.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) helps protect your data, but more importantly for streaming, it can hide your IP address, and help you stream local sports from anywhere (including a dark zone). So pairing a VPN with an MLB.TV subscription would give you the ability to stream games that are available in the market. Are you looking to try a VPN for the first time? this Guide Collapses The best VPN options for every type of user.
(Express VPN)
ExpressVPN offers “unlimited internet,” which means you can catch that baseball game in the market that you've been dying to watch but know is blocked on MLB.TV. All you have to do is sign up for ExpressVPN and change your server location to a state where the game is not restricted (or even to Canada!).
ExpressVPN's extra security, speed, and range of location options make it an excellent choice for first-time VPN users looking to expand their streaming capabilities, plus it's Endgadget's top pick for Best streaming VPN. New users can save 49% when they sign up for a 12-month ExpressVPN subscription. Additionally, the service offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, in case you're nervous about trying the VPN.
Which MLB teams are playing on Opening Day?
All 30 MLB clubs are scheduled to play on Opening Day. However, the Brewers vs. Mets game and Braves vs. Phillies game were postponed to Friday due to rain.
MLB opening day Schedule:
Games broadcast nationally are listed in bold.
Thursday 28 March
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Los Angeles Angels vs. Baltimore Orioles – 3:05 p.m. ET
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Washington Nationals vs. Cincinnati Reds – 4:10 p.m. ET
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San Francisco Giants vs. San Diego Padres – 4:10 p.m. ET
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St. Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers – 4:10 PM ET – MLB Network
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Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays – 4:10 PM ET – MLB Network
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Minnesota Twins vs. Kansas City Royals – 4:10 p.m. ET
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Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago White Sox – 4:10 p.m. ET
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Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Miami Marlins – 4:10 p.m. ET
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New York Yankees vs. Houston Astros – 4:10 p.m. ET
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Chicago Cubs vs. Texas Rangers – 7:35 PM ET – ESPN
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Cleveland Guardians vs. Oakland Athletics – 10:07 p.m. ET
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Colorado Rockies vs. Arizona Diamondbacks – 10:10 p.m. ET
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Boston Red Sox vs. Seattle Mariners – 10:10 p.m. ET
Friday 29 March
More ways to watch the 2024 MLB season:
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