Spring is officially here in North America. That means the 2017 Major League Baseball season is just getting started and for the first time, cord-cutters have unprecedented access to MLB games without cable TV.
So crack open a window to let in the spring air as we sit back and enjoy streaming some MLB.
If you're a baseball fan, you'll want the MLB Network and cord-cutters now have legal access. Both DIRECTV NOW and PlayStation Vue include the MLB Network this season.
Both services offer a free seven-day trial allowing you to test them out without making a two-year commitment. We highly recommend you take advantage of these trials to see which service is the right fit for you.
If you want access to your local sports networks such as Fox Sports, Comcast SportsNet (CSN) and others, then we have good news for you. Sling TV recently added CSN to their lineup, fulfilling last year's promise to subscribers.
While regional sports networks are easier than ever for cord-cutters to watch, you may have to shop around. Currently, Sling TV, PlayStation Vue, Fubo TV and DIRECTV NOW all offer local sports channels—but not all of them. Make sure you do a bit of research to see which channels each local sports network offers in your area. It appears they all have Fox Sports and CSN with a smattering of different regional sports networks.
Just one year ago, the idea of being able to watch regional sports networks without cable was unheard of. Thankfully, as competition grows, so have options for cord cutters.
What if you live far from your favorite team? Well, we have good news for you. If you live out of market rather than the same place your favorite teams are from, you should try MLB.TV.
MLB.TV will stream out-of-market MLB games to you via a wide range of devices. You can choose to follow just one team or sign up for full access depending on what you are willing to pay for. MLB.TV is available on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku and Chromecast.
Many teams, but not all, have deals with local stations to carry MLB games over the air. Read our helpful guide on how to watch the Big Three networks and others for free with an antenna.
As always, do your research before you pay for a service to ensure it's a good fit for you. Hopefully, this guide will help you enjoy baseball this season without the need to agree to a two-year cable TV contract.