Watch 2022 MLB games with a VPN and no blackouts

The 2022 Major League Baseball season is off to a roaring start with rookie records, no-hitters, and of course the permanent addition of designated hitters in the NL. Read on for all the ways to watch MLB games live online, including new streaming options for the 2022 season.

Watch baseball games without MLB.TV blackouts

The easiest way to watch every MLB game is with an MLB.TV subscription. MLB.TV is available globally, and ExpressVPN works seamlessly with MLB.TV to ensure you can stream the action privately and securely. But while MLB.TV is great and fantastically comprehensive, you still have to worry about blackouts.

What are MLB blackouts?

In baseball, regional markets have sole broadcasting rights in the United States. For example, most Red Sox games are only available to stream on the New England TV channel NESN, so they would not be available for live streaming on the MLB.tv app in the Boston area. In Chicago, which has two teams, nationally-broadcast games with either the Cubs or the White Sox (on Fox or TBS, for example) might also be blacked out. Some games may not be available online in your area until 48 hours after a game is televised. (Find MLB blackouts by zip code here.)

How to avoid MLB blackouts? Connect to a secure VPN server location where games are not being aired. If you’re in Los Angeles, for example, and Dodger games are being broadcast on TV, connect to a VPN server location in another city or country, and watch the MLB.tv stream privately, securely, and free from bandwidth throttling by your ISP. If a game is on the national blackouts list, connect instead through an international server in a country like the Netherlands, Japan, or the UK.

How to watch MLB blackout games with a VPN

MLB.tv

Price: 140 USD for the entire season

The MLB.tv app is the most comprehensive and affordable option for streaming the entire MLB season. By connecting to a VPN server location where games are not being broadcast, you can avoid MLB blackouts and even choose which broadcast you want to watch (from the home or visiting team). The service comes with a seven-day free trial, and also offers a monthly option.

To privately and securely stream MLB games live in blazing-fast HD with unlimited bandwidth:

1. Get ExpressVPN.
2. Download the ExpressVPN app to your smart TV, mobile phone, tablet, or other preferred streaming device.
3. Connect to your preferred secure server location where games are not being aired; to ensure you never encounter any blackouts, we recommend purchasing your subscription in an international location like the Netherlands or Japan.
4. Head to MLB.TV and sign up for the free trial.
5. Batter up!

MLB.tv will also offer a number of new key features for the 2022 season. Fans of select clubs—including the Cubs, Red Sox, Dodgers, Cardinals, and Blue Jays—will now be able to stream pre- and post-game coverage, with plans to add more teams as the season continues. The app will also offer improved playback controls along with real-time in-game details and stats. Fans can also look forward to an expanded content library with new original series, and the popular “MLB Big Inning” show will now air nightly. For the first time it will also be available to stream on Apple TV+.

Other ways to watch 2022 MLB games online

With ExpressVPN, you can stream many MLB games all season long on various cable channels—such as TBS, Fox, and FS1—that are available through various cord-cutting services. Some platforms, such as DirecTV Stream, even carry regional sports networks like YES and NESN. To watch 2022 MLB games all season long with improved speeds, privacy, and security:

1. Get ExpressVPN.
2. Connect to a server location in the U.S.
3. Go to Sling TV (50 USD/month), DirecTV Stream (70 USD/month), fuboTV (70 USD/month), Hulu+Live TV (70 USD/month), or YouTube TV (65 USD/month) and use a free trial.
4. Play ball!

Watching on a computer? For the best streaming experience, be sure to use the ExpressVPN browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.

Sling TV

Price: 50 USD/month and up

Channels: TBS, Fox, FS1, and MLB Network

Sling TV includes channels that carry MLB games, such as MLB Network, TBS, Fox, and FS1.

To get all of these channels, you’ll need to get Sling Orange as well as Sling Blue (a combined package costs 50 USD). Use the “Sports Extra” add-on for Sling TV in order to watch MLB Network for an extra 10 USD/month.

A three-day free trial is available. You will need a U.S. card or PayPal in order to subscribe.

fuboTV

Price: 70 USD/month and up

Channels: Fox, FS1, MLB Network, some regional sports networks

On the downside, fubo does not offer TBS, which airs national games on Tuesdays. But on the plus side, it’s one of the few cord-cutting services to offer select regional sports networks like Marquee Sports Network (Cubs), NBC Sports Bay Area (Giants), NESN (Red Sox), and Root Sports Northwest (Mariners). Note that for games on regional sports networks, the teams available to you will be determined by the home zip code on your billing account. In addition, the “Sports Plus” package that includes MLB Network costs an additional 11 USD per month. fuboTV comes with a 7-day free trial.

DirecTV Stream

Price: 70 USD/month

Channels: TBS, Fox, FS1, and MLB Network, plus regional sports networks with the “Choice” package

DirecTV Stream is on the pricier side but if you prefer a cord-cutting service over an additional streaming app, it’s the best option as the “Choice” package (90 USD/month) includes regional sports networks like YES, NESN, and the Dodgers’ Spectrum SportsNet LA. DirecTV offers a 5-day free trial.

YouTube TV

Price: 65 USD/month and up

Channels: TBS, Fox, FS1, and MLB Network

YouTube and MLB are expanding their partnership and will offer 15 game of the week streams that are free to viewers in 182 countries. The series will kick off on May 5 with the Washington Nationals at Colorado Rockies. Check out the first half of the schedule here, and simply visit MLB’s YouTube channel to watch the games live.

For comprehensive coverage across the season, YouTube TV offers channels that cover MLB games and the subscription costs 65 USD/month. If you don’t feel like committing to YouTube TV, use the 5-day free trial.

Want it on the big screen? Learn about all the ways to get ExpressVPN on your TV.

Amazon Prime Video

Price: 25 USD/month for the MLB.tv add-on

Amazon Prime offers MLB.tv as an add-on for 25 USD/month (on top of the regular 139 USD annual membership). There’s a 30-day free trial available.

In addition, Amazon Prime Video will also stream 21 New York Yankees games over the course of the season to Prime Video subscribers in the New York region (including New York, Connecticut, northeast Pennsylvania, and north and central New Jersey). For viewers in these areas, these games will only be available to stream on Amazon Prime (and not local TV). The slate begins with a Friday night tilt vs. the Cleveland Guardians on April 22, and will also include three games against the Red Sox, two games against the Tampa Bay Rays, and a cross-city matchup with the Mets.

Hulu+Live TV

Price: 70 USD/month

Channels: TBS, Fox, and FS1

Hulu+Live TV offers most of the national channels broadcasting MLB except for the MLB Network and regional sports networks. A seven-day free trial is available.

Sky Sports

Price: 22 GBP/month and up

Channels: Sky Sports

Living in the UK? Sky Sports is your best bet for catching live streams of the games. You will also need to provide a valid postal code and a UK/Ireland credit or debit card.

If you have a Sky subscription, you can stream content with Sky Go by connecting to a secure server location in the UK and then logging in to your Sky Go account.

Apple TV+

Price: 5 USD/month

Apple TV+ will carry two Friday Night Baseball games each week and the subscription costs just 5 USD/month. If you don’t feel like committing to Apple TV+ or only want to watch a specific game, there’s a seven-day free trial. Games will be available to Apple TV+ customers in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.

Peacock

Price: 5 USD/month and up

Starting in May NBC’s streaming app Peacock will air early Sunday games that start at either 11:30 a.m. or 12 p.m. on the East Coast. The schedule will run for 18 weeks from May 8 (White Sox at Red Sox) through September 4 (Blue Jays at Pirates). Find the full schedule here. The platform will also have classic MLB games and a selection of documentaries from the MLB Film & Video Archive. Peacock offers a 7-day free trial with no credit card required, but is well-priced at just 5 USD per month and also includes sports like EPL soccer and Rugby Sevens. To securely watch baseball on Peacock:

1. Get ExpressVPN.
2. Connect to a server location in the U.S.
3. Go to www.peacocktv.com and log in or sign up.
4. Play ball!

What’s new for MLB 2022?

We don’t blame you if couldn’t keep up with all the momentous changes that took place this offseason. Here’s what’s new for MLB 2022:

A universal designated hitter: For nearly 150 years, pitchers have batted in baseball. It’s been 49 years since the American League adopted the designated hitter, and the distinction always made for fun novelty matchups during interleague play and the World Series. But in 2021, NL pitchers hit just .110, which wasn’t much fun for anyone—fans or players. So after a trial period last year, the National League is officially following suit and adopting the DH for 2022. Look for big bats like Kyle Schwarber (Phillies) and Nelson Cruz (Nationals) to make an immediate impact, while we all develop an even deeper appreciation of Shohei Ohtani’s two-way skills.

Electronic pitch-calling: Sign-stealing is almost as old as baseball itself, but it’s become increasingly problematic in the electronic age (see: the 2017 Houston Astros). Now MLB is aiming to put an end to sign stealing once and for all with a new device called PitchCom, which will allow catchers to signal pitch speed and location to the pitcher via an electronic wrist pad and listening device. Other infielders can access it, too, and it’s available in both English and Spanish. A number of teams tried it out in Spring Training, and it’s drawn mostly raves from players.

Hello, Guardians: After 128 years—but decades of mounting protest over its name and mascot—Cleveland’s baseball team has a new name: The Guardians, named after the Art Deco Guardians of Traffic statues that adorn the Hope Memorial Bridge near the team’s stadium. The decision to change the team’s name was announced in late 2020, following widespread protests across the U.S. over racism and inequality, and the team revealed its new name last summer in a video narrated by Tom Hanks. No word yet on how this will impact any further Major League sequels.

Expanded playoffs: There will now be a third wild card in each league, meaning no more 1-game playoffs and the total number of playoff teams will expand from 10 to 12. Now, the top two division winners will each receive a first-round bye, while the division winner with the worst record and the three wild card teams will play a best-of-three series (followed by a best-of-five divisional series and the standard best-of-seven LCS). The entire wild card round will air on ESPN, while TBS and Fox will split the subsequent rounds. Notably absent from the MLB postseason for the first time since 1996? Joe Buck, who called the last 23 World Series but departed Fox for ESPN in the offseason.

Speaking of where to watch baseball games…

More streaming options: We’ve covered this above, but this is the first season that a number of national streaming platforms will be airing live baseball at no additional cost (for now, anyway). Apple TV+ will air Friday night baseball doubleheaders throughout the season, Amazon Prime Video will stream 21 Yankees games (in the tri-state area), and Peacock is rumored to start airing Sunday morning games starting in May (though no official schedule has been announced yet).

Let’s play two! Thanks to the lockout pushing the start of the season back from March 31 to April 7, a total of 91 games have had to be rescheduled. This means there are now 30 doubleheaders scheduled for the 2022 season (and that’s before the typical additions for rain outs). In practical terms this means fewer rest days and—in combination with a shortened Spring Training—more risk for injury. Our sympathy to the Philadelphia Phillies, who will start the season playing 13 days in a row.

FAQ for streaming baseball

Can I watch MLB.tv internationally?

Absolutely! MLB.tv is available to customers all over the world for the exact same price regardless of country. Plus there’s the added bonus of no blackout games! With ExpressVPN you can always stream baseball games securely and in HD with unlimited bandwidth, just connect to one of our secure, high-speed servers before launching the MLB.tv app.

Can I stream sports on my computer?

Definitely. If you’re accessing the streaming service from a web browser, be sure to also install the ExpressVPN extension for Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. The extension has a few features under the hood that can smooth out common streaming issues.

Can I stream sports on my phone or tablet?

Yes. ExpressVPN has apps for every major mobile device, including iOS and Android.

How can I stream on my TV with a VPN?

In brief there are five different ways to stream sports on your TV with ExpressVPN:

-With the native app for a smart TV or streaming device
-By streaming on your computer and connecting to the TV with an HDMI cable
-By mirroring or casting wirelessly to your TV or streaming device from your computer or mobile device
-By connecting to an ExpressVPN-enabled router, which allows for unlimited devices and makes it super simple to connect to different server locations simultaneously
-With MediaStreamer, ExpressVPN’s solution for devices that cannot install a VPN, such as Apple TV or gaming consoles. MediaStreamer only needs to be set up once, although it does not provide the full security benefits of a VPN. (Note that by connecting your Apple TV or gaming console to a router, you can get the best of both worlds!)

For more information on all the ways to get ExpressVPN on your big-screen TV, click below, or just contact a 24/7 Support agent for step-by-step instructions.

Does ExpressVPN come with an MLB.tv account?

No, you’ll still have to purchase a subscription or create a separate account. But, ExpressVPN ensures you can stream safely and at top speeds, without having to compromise your security or picture quality, and it works seamlessly with all the most popular streaming apps from around the world. Using a VPN for streaming ensures you watch securely in blazing-fast HD with unlimited bandwidth, free from ISP throttling (which can sometimes slow down speeds).

If you want to watch your favorite team from anywhere—even while traveling or on unsecured networks like public Wi-Fi—ExpressVPN is a great way to enhance your sports streaming experience.

I connected to the VPN but my internet speed is slow

If your internet speed is slow or your streaming seems to lag, there are a few possible reasons:

-The distance of your selected VPN server location from your physical location
-Your connection type (wired connections are more reliable than wireless connections)
-Suboptimal interconnectivity between the VPN and your ISP
-Slow internet connection speed at your location
-Your device type and processing power

Try each of the following steps to troubleshoot:

-Download the latest version of ExpressVPN
-Connect to a different VPN server location
-Change your VPN protocol

If you try each of the above and are still experiencing issues with your streaming speed, contact the ExpressVPN Support Team 24/7 and someone will be with you in seconds.

Read more about troubleshooting streaming speed issues.

2022 MLB regular season schedule

ExpressVPN is a VPN service not intended to be used as a means of copyright circumvention. Please read the ExpressVPN Terms of Service and your content provider’s Terms of Use for more details.