No jokes: Baseball is back.
With Opening Day happening today, expect plenty of players to be April fooled on breaking balls, but it’s all serious business on diamonds across the country this year.
MLB is back with a full serving of baseball after the 60-game sprint in 2020, and it’s getting underway for everyone quick: All 30 teams are scheduled to take the field, and if they do, it’ll be the first time since 1968 that every squad in MLB started on the same day.
MLB has tried scheduling teams on the same day in recent years, but rainouts and overseas series have sullied those plans.
It’s April Fool’s day: Beware Fake Ken Rosenthal accounts. But very real baseball is coming your way today. Here’s how and where you can watch:
MORE: Watch MLB Opening Day games live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
MLB Opening Day schedule 2021
Baseball starved fans will have the opportunity to take in a host of nationally televised games over the first weekend of the sport’s return.
Thursday, April 1
All 30 teams are scheduled to play on Opening Day this year, weather permitting.
| Game | First pitch (ET) | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Yankees vs. Blue Jays | 1:05 p.m. | ESPN, YES Network, fuboTV |
| Tigers vs. Indians | 1:10 p.m. | — |
| Red Sox vs. Orioles | 2:10 p.m. | MASN, NESN, fuboTV |
| Brewers vs. Twins | 2:10 p.m. | BSNO/BSWI |
| Cubs vs. Pirates | 2:20 p.m. | Marquee SN, ATT Sportsnet, fuboTV |
| Phillies vs. Braves | 3:05 p.m. | BSSO |
| Marlins vs. Rays | 4:10 p.m. | BSF |
| Reds vs. Cardinals | 4:10 p.m. | BSM, BSO |
| Rockies vs. Dodgers | 4:10 p.m. | ESPN, Sportsnet LA, Sportsnet RM, fuboTV |
| Padres vs. Diamondbacks | 4:10 p.m. | BSA, BSSD |
| Royals vs. Rangers | 4:10 p.m. | BSSW, BSKC |
| Nationals vs. Mets | 7:09 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV |
| Angels vs. White Sox | 10:05 p.m. | NBCS Chicago, FSW |
| Athletics vs. Astros | 10:07 p.m. | ESPN, NBCS California, fuboTV |
| Mariners vs. Giants | 10:10 p.m. | ROOT Sports NW |
Friday, April 2
The following are the nationally televised games scheduled for Friday, April 2.
| Game | First pitch | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Marlins vs. Rays | 7:10 p.m. | MLB Network |
| Rockies vs. Dodgers | 8:40 p.m. | MLB Network (OOM) |
Saturday, April 3
The following games are scheduled for Saturday, April 3 for national broadcasts:
| Game | First pitch | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Yankees vs. Blue Jays | 1:05 p.m. | MLB Network (OOM) |
| Red Sox vs. Orioles | 1:10 p.m. | MLB Network (OOM) |
| Phillies vs. Braves | 4:05 p.m. | FS1, fuboTV |
| Rockies vs. Dodgers | 8:10 p.m. | FS1, fuboTV |
Sunday, April 4
The following games are scheduled for Saturday, April 4 for national broadcasts:
| Game | First pitch | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Phillies vs. Braves | 1:05 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV |
| Athletics vs. Astros | 4:07 p.m. | MLB Network |
| Padres vs. Diamondbacks | 4:10 p.m. | MLB Network |
| Angels vs. White Sox | 8:37 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV |
How to watch MLB games on Opening Day
As many are familiar, regional sports networks (RSNs) own the MLB landscape now, meaning your favorite team will be able to be caught on their home RSN, if the game is not nationally televised.
On Opening Day, there will be four games nationally televised on ESPN: Yankees vs. Blue Jays (1:05 p.m. ET), Rockies vs. Dodgers (4:10 p.m. ET), Nationals vs. Mets (7:09 p.m. ET) and Athletics vs. Astros (10:07 p.m. ET). Games will be available on ESPN+, as well.
For those not in the cable business, there are several options:
MLB live streams for Opening Day
MLB streams can be separated into three major categories. All have significant limitations, meaning a combination of options is required to ensure access to every game.
MLB TV
MLB TV has games except for your local, in-market teams. Blackout restrictions, as always, apply.
MLB TV can be had for an $129.99 yearly cost, $24.99 monthly cost or $109.99 for a single team.
Network apps
Major sports networks — ESPN, Fox Sports — have their own streaming apps which are usually attached to a cable subscription. However, as always, blackout restrictions apply and
ESPN+ is also a viable option for fans wanting to catch some baseball this year, at a monthly cost of $5.99.
Online streaming bundles
If you don’t have cable, there are a few other options:
YouTube TV costs $64.99 per month and Hulu + Live TV is 54.99 per month. For those in markets with NBC Sports channels, Sling TV and fuboTV are additional options.
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