The 2014 World Series is underway. If you can’t get to a TV to watch the games for whatever reason, don’t fret. We put this guide together to help you keep track of all the action using your computer or mobile device.
But first, here’s a brief primer on today’s game.
| San Francisco Giants at Kansas City Royals – Game 5 – 8 p.m. ET – FOX | Just as it looked like the Kansas City Royals were about to take complete control of this series, the San Francisco Giants did something not many teams have been able to do lately. They unloaded on the Royals’ bullpen.
The Giants scored eight runs off of Royals relievers in game four. Now, the series is tied two and two, instead of KC being up three games to one. In tonight’s game, the Royals will once again trot out “Big Game” James Shields, but despite his nickname, he has been a terrible postseason pitcher. He also turned in a terrible start in the opening game in this series. Can be bounce back and redeem himself? Or will he be a goat once again? The Giants, meanwhile, will be going with ace Madison Bumgarner, who has been spectacular all year long. Clearly, San Francisco has a big edge here in the starting pitching department. Will that translate to a game five victory? We will find out tonight. |
MLB.tv
A $25 subscription–or an additional $10 for existing subscribers–to MLB.tv’s streaming service will grant you access to playoff games, but there appear to be some conditions that you should know about. We must note that the language concerning MLB’s blackouts and restrictions policies is confusing, so you should check it out for yourself before ordering.
For instance, it sounds like you’ll have to provide credentials for cable/satellite TV subscriptions, on top of paying for an MLB.tv subscription, in order to watch some of the NLDS, NLCS, ALDS, and ALCS games.
On top of that, live games are subject to local, regional, and national blackouts, so your mileage may truly vary. Please familiarize yourself with the language contained in this page so that you don’t end up throwing money away.
If you’re based internationally, you can stream all the games with an MLB.tv subscription with no blackouts.
MLB At Bat
For $4, the MLB At Bat app will give you access to up to 10 different camera angles for the ALDS and the ALCS games. You can also listen to both the home and away radio broadcasts for every playoff game, including the World Series.
ESPN Radio
ESPN will stream the radio broadcasts of MLB playoff games on its official site. Please check this page for game times and dates.
Questionable streaming sites
There are a wide variety of online streaming sites which grant access to many live sporting events. These sites provide multiple streams, but most of them come packed with spam, malware, and pop-ups. We don’t recommend that you use these sites. The hassle of having to avoid spam and deal with low quality streams makes these services more of an inconvenience than a help.
As a rule of thumb, never click on any link which asks you to download any HD Players, update your streaming software, or install any “required” media players. These are often just spam links which could infect your computer with malware.
Other resources:
MLB Gameday
MLB Gameday won’t provide you with free live streams of playoff games, but it will allow you to track every pitch in real time, and grant you a wealth of constantly updated scores, stats, and highlight videos.
To use MLB Gameday, click on the link above. Underneath each game, click the button between the small TV-like icon, and the headphones icon.
DT writer Joe Donovan also contributed to this piece
