Baseball just cracked open a brand-new inning, and this time, you won’t find it on your local cable box. Nope, next time you want to catch that first pitch of the MLB season, you’d better hope your Netflix password still works.
Yep, you heard that right. For the first time in what feels like forever, the MLB season is opening not on ESPN, not on Fox, not on ABC — but on Netflix. And that’s not just some one-off curiosity — it’s the beginning of a three-year deal that could totally rewire how we watch America’s pastime.
Giants vs. Yankees on Netflix? Believe It.
March 25, 2026. Giants vs. Yankees. Classic East Coast–West Coast energy, but this time, instead of flicking over to the usual sports channel, fans will need to fire up the Netflix app.
Now here’s the thing: this move didn’t come out of the goodness of MLB’s heart or because Netflix suddenly developed a love for seventh-inning stretches. This was about money and big money at that. We’re talking potentially $250 million per season, or a similar amount, spread across deals with Netflix and NBC’s Peacock. That’s not pocket change — that’s a strategic play in a high-stakes game where everyone wants a piece of the streaming pie.
ESPN is stepping out after the 2025 season, and MLB is replacing it with Netflix in the lineup. That means Opening Day goes behind the streaming paywall, and there’s even talk that Netflix might snag the Field of Dreams Game and the Home Run Derby. That’s some serious marquee action moving off traditional airwaves.
For Fans, a New Cost at the Plate
Now, here’s where it gets real for fans: if you want to watch these games, you’re going to need a Netflix subscription. That’s $7.99 to $24.99 a month, depending on your plan. And no, these games won’t be part of your cable sports package. They’re exclusive — just you, Netflix, and the national pastime.
Sure, some fans will grumble. They’ll miss the simplicity of flipping to ESPN or tuning in on a local broadcast. But let’s be honest — the writing’s been on the outfield wall for years. Sports leagues aren’t just competing with each other anymore; they’re competing with everything on your screen. Streaming platforms are the new ballparks.
Netflix Streaming Is the New Stadium
This isn’t just about one game. This is the MLB commissioner planting his flag in the digital world and saying, “We’re not going extinct with the cable box.” With younger audiences cutting cords faster than you can say “three strikes,” the league knows it has to meet fans where they live — and that’s online, on-demand, and on streaming platforms.
AppleTV+ was the league’s test run. Netflix is the real deal. Hundreds of millions of subscribers. A proven record of delivering massive, global content. And now? Baseball.
So yeah, when the umpire calls “Play ball!” in 2026, don’t expect to hear the roar of your neighborhood sports bar’s flat-screen TV. Expect the quiet hum of living rooms, dorm rooms, and subway commutes — all streaming the game from the cloud.
The future of baseball? It’s digital, it’s on demand, and it starts with a big swing from Netflix.
