Play ball! The two words baseball fans are sure glad to hear. Here’s your updated primer for the 2026 MLB season — and how you can stream your favorite team’s games from anywhere, regardless of blackouts and even if you’ve cut the cord.
Quick Overview on How to Stream MLB in 2026
The MLB season is back! Here are the most reliable ways to watch games in 2026 — whether you’re at home, traveling, or dealing with blackout restrictions.
Best VPNs to Stream Live MLB Games
Best FlashRouters to Stream Live MLB Games
And, if you’re looking for the easiest way to get your VPN on your SmartTV (or any device that doesn’t support VPN apps), upgrading your wireless router is the most reliable way to stream smoothly.
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How Does MLB Streaming Work in 2026?
In 2026, MLB streaming is a mix of MLB.TV (for out-of-market games), national broadcasts (like FOX/ESPN/TBS/FS1), and regional coverage that can vary by team and location.
MLB.TV is still the go-to for many fans who follow a team outside their home market. The most common frustration remains the same: blackouts. If you’re in a team’s in-market region, MLB.TV may block that live game even if you’re a paying subscriber.
So what is a blacked-out baseball obsessive supposed to do? Why, use a VPN, of course!
How Can I Use a VPN for MLB 2026 Games (and Beyond)?
Traveling Fans / Snowbirds
A VPN helps you keep a more consistent streaming experience by letting you connect through a server location that matches where your streaming access is available (instead of where you physically happen to be).
A VPN is an acronym for Virtual Private Network. A Virtual Private Network filters an Internet connection through a remote server and back. Tunneling between servers encrypts the connection. It also changes the appearance of a user’s geolocation.
For example, if you are traveling and want to watch your home team without running into location-based restrictions, selecting a VPN server outside your current region can help you access geo-blocked content.
Important note: Blackout rules and streaming availability can change based on league and broadcaster policies. A VPN is one of the most common tools fans use to keep streaming consistent when traveling or living out-of-market.
What Are The Best VPNs for MLB Streaming?
PER MONTH
- 1700+ Servers across 60+ countries
- Integrates with the Tor anonymity network
How Can I Stream MLB With a FlashRouter?
The easiest way to stream MLB games on devices that don’t support VPN apps (Smart TVs, streaming sticks, game consoles, and more) is to run your VPN at the router level.
Eliminate your fears of annoying stalls or freezes in the middle of prime streaming by boosting your network with an expertly tested-and-flashed wireless router. Get a smoother streaming experience all season long — from Opening Day to playoffs.
If you want a quick shortcut to the best current hardware picks, our 2026 guide is the fastest place to start:
What's the Best Wi-Fi Router for MLB Streaming?
Asus RT-BE88U WiFi 7 Merlin FlashRouter
$499.99
- Upgraded with Custom Merlin Firmware.
- Next Gen WiFI 7 Update of Asus favorite model.
Asus RT-BE58U BE3600 WiFi 7 AsusWRT FlashRouter
$349.99
- WiFi 7 Speeds Up to 3600 Mbps
- Optimized for VPN Privacy
Asus RT-BE98U PRO Wi-Fi 7 FlashRouter
$999.99
- Perfect for Max Wi-Fi (30+ Simultaneous Connections)
- Blazing-fast Wi-Fi 7 (Wireless-BE)
What Are The Benefits of Using a FlashRouter for MLB Streaming?
All of our open-source firmware-installed routers come equipped with built-in VPN options, helping you stream on more devices — without having to configure a VPN app on each one.
Plus, you won’t need to worry about flashing firmware yourself. We take care of setup so you can focus on watching the game. And because the VPN runs on the router, you can connect multiple devices to a single VPN connection.
Need more info? Explore the benefits of using a FlashRouter.
What Are MLB Blackout Restrictions?
Major League Baseball, like most North American sports leagues, is no stranger to blackout restrictions. MLB’s blackout policy generally comes down to two themes: market restrictions and national vs local designations.
MLB justifies these practices as a way to protect local broadcasters who pay for the rights to air games. When you watch through local broadcasts, viewership (and ad revenue) flows through those broadcasters.
Some games are designated as national broadcasts (widely available), while others are carried by regional sports networks and vary by location.
That means if you’re a fan of a team traveling out-of-market, you may only be able to watch a specific matchup live if it’s carried nationally — otherwise you can run into access restrictions based on where you are.
Alternatively, you can use a VPN to access your favorite team’s games more consistently when traveling.
MLB differentiates between in-market and out-of-market games. In-market corresponds to your team’s local broadcast territory; out-of-market is outside that region.
If you are out-of-market, MLB.TV is often the cleanest option. If you are in-market, you may need a local broadcast provider — or fans often look to VPN-based approaches to reduce location-based friction, especially while traveling.
To learn more about what a VPN is and how it can help you stream MLB games, jump to our VPN section.
How Else Can I Watch MLB Games?
For fans streaming through live TV services, availability typically includes:
- Hulu + Live TV: ESPN, FOX, FS1 (and more depending on plan)
- YouTube TV: ESPN, FOX, FS1 (and more depending on plan)
- DirecTV Stream: ESPN, MLB Network, FS1, regional coverage varies
- FuboTV: FOX, FS1 (and more depending on plan)
Games carried on ESPN platforms may also be available via ESPN+ depending on the matchup and rights.
Some games also stream through services like Apple TV+ (Friday Night Baseball) and select local-market options may appear on Prime Video depending on team and region.
FAQ
Yes. MLB.TV is primarily designed for out-of-market games. If you are inside a team’s in-market broadcast territory, certain games may be blocked live due to regional broadcast rights.
Using a VPN router is typically the simplest approach. A FlashRouter runs the VPN at the network level so Smart TVs, Roku, Apple TV, and game consoles can stream through the VPN connection without installing apps on each device.
Traveling can change what your streaming services consider “local.” A VPN can help by letting you connect through a server location that better matches where your streaming access is available. Many travelers and seasonal residents use a VPN router to keep settings consistent across all devices.
Start with a FlashRouter that matches your home size and device count. If you want a shortcut, see our curated guide here: Best VPN Routers 2026.
Stream Your Favorite MLB Team From Anywhere (2026 Updated)
BEST VPNs OF 2026
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