How to watch MLB’s 2022 Opening Day for free—and without cable

Every team will play their first game in the next two days (14 on Thursday, 16 on Friday), but the 2022 season will look a bit different by the time we get to the Fall Classic.

This year, for the first time, there will be 12 teams in the playoff field, the largest postseason in the sport’s history.

Obviously, the best way to experience Opening Day is in the stands, with a hot dog and beer in hand. But that’s not a viable option for most people. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to watch.

When does Major League Baseball begin its 2022 season?

Opening day is Thursday, April 7. The first game, which features the Chicago Cubs facing off against the Milwaukee Brewers, airs at 2:20 p.m. ET. (The Red Sox/Yankees matchup, which was going to be the kickoff game, was rescheduled to Friday.)

What’s the schedule for MLB opening day?

Here’s who’s playing, as well as when and where you can watch (Note: All games will not be broadcast):

Thursday, April 7

Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers, 2:20 p.m. ET, MLB.tv

Kansas City Royals vs. Cleveland Guardians, 4:10 p.m. ET, MLB.tv

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, 4:15 p.m. ET, MLB.tv

Washington Nationals vs. New York Mets, 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB.tv

Atlanta Braves vs. Cincinnati Reds, 8:08 p.m. ET, ESPN2

Los Angeles Angels vs. Houston Astros, 9:38 p.m. ET, MLB.tv

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Diego Padres, 9:40 p.m. ET, MLB.tv

Friday, April 8

New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox, 1:05 p.m. ET, YES Network, MLB Network

Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago White Sox, 1:10 p.m. ET, MLB.tv

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Oakland Athletics, 3:05 p.m. ET, MLB.tv

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles, 3:10 p.m. ET, MLB.tv

Minnesota Twins vs. Seattle Mariners, 4:10 p.m. ET, MLB.tv

Colorado Rockies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 4:10 p.m. ET, MLB.tv

San Francisco Giants vs. Miami Marlins, 4:35 p.m. ET, MLB.tv

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Texas Rangers, 7:07 p.m. ET, Apple TV+

Can I watch MLB Opening Day games for free?

While normally you can catch big sporting events over the air for free with a good HD antenna, that’s not an option on Opening Day. Fox won’t begin its coverage of Major League Baseball games until Saturday, April 9. There are plenty of online options, though, including TBS.com. And if you subscribe to the MLB Network, many Opening Day games will air there.

Can I watch MLB Opening Day games online?

Not only can you watch online, it’s arguably the best way to watch the games this year. For opening day (and Friday), there are three options.

Fubo TV

This sports-focused cord-cutting service carries the MLB Network in most markets. There’s a seven-day free trial, followed by monthly charges of $65-$80, depending on the channels you choose.

Disney+

Disney’s bundle of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ can be enjoyed for free for seven days, after which you’ll pay $13.99 per month for all three combined.

Apple TV+

Apple’s streaming service will carry Friday Night Baseball this year, with two games per week. There’s a seven-day free trial, after which you’ll pay $4.99 per month.

Later in the season, there are several other options to watch games as well…

Peacock

NBC’s streaming service will give you access to Sunday night games and others aired on that network. You can get a seven-day free trial, followed by a $5 or $10 monthly charge. (The free version of Peacock does not include live sports.)

Paramount+

CBS’s streaming service will give you access to games aired on that network. You can get a one-month free trial, followed by a $6 monthly charge.

Hulu with Live TV

You can try the service free for a week. Once that’s up, you’ll pay $65 per month.

YouTubeTV

After a two-week trial, you can expect monthly charges of $65.

Sling TV

Dish Network’s Sling lower-tiered Orange plan will run you $35 per month. Adding the more comprehensive Blue plan bumps the cost to $50 per month. You’ll have a seven-day free trial first—and right now, the cord-cutting service is dropping the first month’s bill to $10.

AT&T TV

Formerly known as DirecTV Now and AT&T TVNow, AT&T’s streaming service will run you $70 per month and up. There is no longer a free trial option.

Amazon Prime Video

The retail giant’s streaming service will air 21 Yankees games exclusively this year. If you don’t have Prime, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial.

Does Major League Baseball offer a service for me to watch any game I want?

Yep. MLB.TV will offer extensive coverage of opening day, airing 16 games over Thursday and Friday. And it’s a go-to service to watch virtually any game throughout the season. 

There’s a 7-day free trial, after which you’ll pay $24.99 per month or $129.99 to stream every team’s out-of-market games live or on demand. If you just want to follow a single team, you can do so for $110.