How to Watch MLB Spring Training Games Live Online to Catch Preseason Baseball

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Calling all MLB fans, the time has come—baseball is back! If you’ve been on your socials and spotting your favorite players arrive for spring training, we have no doubt you’re getting more and more pumped for the regular season. While streaming exhibition games isn’t so simple, we’ve got all of the details on how to watch MLB spring training games so you don’t miss a single second of baseball.

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Before diving into the 2024-2025 Major League Baseball (MLB) regular season, all 30 teams head off to spring training, where they play each other in a series of games. The franchises are split into two different leagues: the Cactus League and the Grapefruit League. The former is based in Arizona, while the latter is based in Florida. Spring training, the MLB’s preseason, is a bunch of practices and games that take place right before the regular season kicks off.

Preseason provides new players with opportunities to try out for roster and position spots. For existing players, this is the prime time to get some practice in and also get a feel for competitors. Additionally, spring training allows fans to attend games in real life, or for those who don’t live in Arizona or Florida, get a glimpse of their favorite team on television.

Watch MLB Spring Training Games

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Players typically arrive at spring training in early February, with pitchers and catchers showing up first and position players rolling in a few days later. Actual spring training games start in late February and go all the way up to the day before Opening Day of the regular season (the last week of March or the first week of April). The 2024 preseason opens with the Los Angeles Dodgers facing the San Diego Padres on Thursday, February 22, which is sure to be an entertaining matchup.

Keep an eye on some of the biggest trades from the offseason, including Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the Los Angeles Dodgers, Juan Soto, Alex Verdugo, and Marcus Stroman on the New York Yankees, Josh Hader on the Houston Astros, and Chris Sale on the Atlanta Braves, among several others.

Streaming MLB games, let alone spring training games, can get complicated. Thankfully, we’ve gathered all of the info you’ll need to check in on your team before the regular season starts. Keep scrolling to learn how to watch MLB spring training games live for free and which plan is best for you.

<em>Left: Juan Soto; Right: Aaron Judge. </em>Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images.
Left: Juan Soto; Right: Aaron Judge. Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images.

How to watch MLB spring training games live for free

MLB spring training games air on MLB Network, ESPN, and ESPN Plus, which are available to stream on services like DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Sling Orange + Sports Extra, and Hulu+ With Live TV. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial and starts at $69.99 per month after the trial ends. If you’re using DirecTV Stream to watch MLB spring training games that are on ESPN, it costs $69.99 per month. However, DirecTV Stream also offers MLB Network with its Choice, Ultimate, and Premier plans, with Choice starting at $84.99 per month.

Fubo offers a seven-day free trial and starts at $79.99 per month after the trial ends. If you’re using Fubo to watch MLB spring training games that are on ESPN, it costs $79.99 per month. However, Fubo also has an MLB.TV add-on that lets you stream every out-of-market MLB game live or on demand for an extra $24.99 per month ($104.98 total per month).

Sling Orange + Sports Extra, Sling Blue + Sports Extra, and Hulu+ With Live TV don’t have free trials, however, they are cheaper per month than the other options. If you’re using Sling to watch MLB spring training games, you can access the games aired on ESPN with Sling Orange, which costs $20 for your first month and $40 per month after your first month ends.

However, Sling Orange + Sports Extra has MLB Network and costs $33 for your first month, starts at $51 per month after the first month ends, and includes MLB Network, ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3. Sling Blue + Sports Extra has MLB Network and costs $33.50 for your first month, starts at $56 per month after your first month ends, and includes MLB Network, ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3. Hulu+ With Live TV starts at $68.99 per month and includes ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNews; Hulu+ With Live TV does not include MLB Network.

Best Overall Pick to Watch MLB Spring Training Games: Direct TV Stream

Watch MLB Spring Training Games With DirecTV Stream

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DirecTV Stream is our best overall pick to watch MLB spring training games live for free for its free trial, price, and channel selection. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial and offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $69.99 per month; Choice, which costs $84.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $114.99 per month; and Premier, which costs $159.99 per month. ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TBS, and FOX/FS1 are available on DirecTV Stream. However, DirecTV Stream also offers MLB Network with its Choice, Ultimate, and Premier plans, with Choice starting at $84.99 per month.

As for other differences between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels including premium channels like HBO and Starz and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch MLB spring training games with DirecTV Stream’s free trial.

  1. Visit streamtv.directv.com

  2. Click “Shop Packages”

  3. Click “Try It Free” for the plan of your choice

  4. Enter your information and payment method

  5. Search for the channel of your choice and start watching MLB spring training games

Best Free Trial Pick to Watch MLB Spring Training Games: Fubo

Watch MLB Spring Training Games With Fubo

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Fubo is our best free trial pick to watch MLB spring training games live for free. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial (two days longer than DirecTV Stream) and offers three plans: Pro, which costs $79.99 per month; Elite, which costs $89.99 per month; and Premier, which costs $99.99 per month. ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TBS, and FOX/FS1 are available on Fubo. However, Fubo also has an MLB.TV add-on that lets you stream every out-of-market MLB game live or on demand for an extra $24.99 per month ($104.98 total per month).

As for the difference between the plans, Pro includes 180 channels, 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR, and the ability to watch on up to 10 screens at once. Elite includes everything in Pro, as well as a total of 256 channels and 4K resolution. Premier includes everything in Pro and Elite, as well as a total of 299 channels, Showtime, and Red Zone NFL Network. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch MLB spring training games with Fubo’s free trial.

  1. Visit Fubo.TV

  2. Click “Start Free Trial”

  3. Enter your information and payment method

  4. Search for the channel of your choice and start watching MLB spring training games

Best Budget Pick to Watch MLB Spring Training Games: Sling

Watch MLB Spring Training Games With Sling

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Sling is our best budget pick to watch MLB spring training games based on its price and current deals. If you’re using Sling to watch MLB spring training games, you can access the games aired on ESPN with Sling Orange, which costs $20 for your first month and $40 per month after your first month ends. However, you can pay extra for a Sports Extra add-on that includes MLB Network. Sling Orange + Sports Extra has MLB Network and costs $33 for your first month, starts at $51 per month after the first month ends, and includes MLB Network, ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3. Sling Blue + Sports Extra has MLB Network and costs $33.50 for your first month, starts at $56 per month after your first month ends, and includes MLB Network, ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3.

As for the difference between the plans, Sling Orange includes 32 channels and the ability to stream on one device at a time, while Sling Orange + Blue includes 46 channels and the ability to stream on three devices at the same time. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch MLB spring training games with Sling.

  1. Visit Sling.com

  2. Click “Try Us Today”

  3. Create an account

  4. Choose your plan

  5. Enter your information and payment method

  6. Search for the channel of your choice and start watching the MLB spring training games

Best Upgrade Pick to Watch MLB Spring Training Games: Hulu+ Live TV

Watch MLB Spring Training Games With Hulu+ With Live TV

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Hulu+ With Live TV is our best upgrade pick to watch MLB spring training games based on its channel selection and its free subscriptions to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus. Hulu+ With Live TV offers four plans: a $68.99 per month plan with access to only live TV; a $69.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; a $74.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; and a $82.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with no ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads. ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TBS, and FOX/FS1 are included on all four plans. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch MLB spring training games with Hulu+ Live TV.

  1. Visit Hulu.com/liveTV

  2. Click “Sign Up Now”

  3. Enter your information and payment method

  4. Search for the channel of your choice and start watching the MLB spring training games

<em>Left: José Altuve; Right: Mauricio Dubón. </em>Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images.
Left: José Altuve; Right: Mauricio Dubón. Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images.

When does MLB spring training start?

MLB spring training 2024 starts on Thursday, February 22 and ends on Thursday, March 28.

MLB Spring Training Schedule 2024

For the full MLB spring training game schedule, head to mlb.com. If you’re looking for which MLB spring training games will air on ESPN and ESPN Plus, keep scrolling below.

ESPN Spring Training Schedule

Date

Time

Game

Thursday, February 22

3 p.m. ET

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres

Friday, February 23

3 p.m. ET

San Diego Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Tuesday, March 5

1 p.m. ET

New York Yankees vs. New York Mets

Thursday, March 7

1 p.m. ET

Atlanta Braves vs. Boston Red Sox

ESPN Plus Spring Training Schedule

Date

Time

Game

Thursday, March 21

1 p.m. ET

Houston Astros vs. St. Louis Cardinals

Friday, March 22

1 p.m. ET

New York Mets vs. New York Yankees

Saturday, March 23

1 p.m. ET

Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Yankees

Sunday, March 24

1 p.m. ET

Atlanta Braves vs. Boston Red Sox

Monday, March 25

1 p.m. ET

Los Angeles Angels vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Tuesday, March 26

1 p.m. ET

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs

Where is MLB spring training?

MLB spring training 2024 takes place in Arizona and Florida. The Cactus League plays at multiple fields in Arizona, while the Grapefruit League plays at multiple fields in Florida. Check out the MLB spring training leagues, teams, and locations below:

Cactus League teams and locations (Arizona)

  • Arizona Diamondbacks – Scottsdale

  • Chicago Cubs – Mesa

  • Chicago White Sox – Glendale

  • Cincinnati Reds – Goodyear

  • Cleveland Guardians – Goodyear

  • Colorado Rockies – Scottsdale

  • Kansas City Royals – Surprise

  • Los Angeles Angels – Tempe

  • Los Angeles Dodgers – Glendale

  • Milwaukee Brewers – Phoenix

  • Oakland Athletics – Mesa

  • San Diego Padres – Peoria

  • San Francisco Giants – Scottsdale

  • Seattle Mariners – Peoria

  • Texas Rangers – Surprise

Grapefruit League teams and locations (Florida)

  • Atlanta Braves – North Port

  • Baltimore Orioles – Sarasota

  • Boston Red Sox – Fort Myers

  • Detroit Tigers – Lakeland

  • Houston Astros – West Palm Beach

  • Miami Marlins – Jupiter

  • Minnesota Twins – Fort Myers

  • New York Mets – Port St. Lucie

  • New York Yankees – Tampa

  • Philadelphia Phillies – Clearwater

  • Pittsburgh Pirates – Bradenton

  • St. Louis Cardinals – Jupiter

  • Tampa Bay Rays – Port Charlotte

  • Toronto Blue Jays – Dunedin

  • Washington Nationals – West Palm Beach

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