The 2026 Major League Baseball postseason begins Tuesday, Sept. 29, with four Wild Card Series games. For listeners who prefer baseball through play-by-play rather than television, every round through the World Series will be available through national or team radio broadcasts.

Radio remains particularly well suited to baseball. Experienced announcers describe the count, defensive alignment, baserunners, and action on the field without requiring the listener to watch a screen. That makes postseason radio valuable for longtime fans, people following games while traveling, and blind or low-vision listeners seeking complete play-by-play coverage.

Wild Card Series schedule

The opening round consists of four best-of-three series. All games are played at the higher-seeded team’s ballpark.

Tuesday’s scheduled games are:

• Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves, 2 p.m. Eastern
• Chicago White Sox at Houston Astros, 5 p.m. Eastern
• Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees, 8 p.m. Eastern
• Chicago Cubs at San Diego Padres, 10 p.m. Eastern

Game 2 of each series is Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the same scheduled time. A deciding Game 3 will be played Thursday, Oct. 1, if necessary.

The Division Series begins Saturday, Oct. 3. The World Series is scheduled to open Friday, Oct. 23, with a possible Game 7 on Saturday, Oct. 31. Game times may change, so listeners should consult the official MLB postseason schedule before each broadcast.

Listen through ESPN Radio

ESPN Radio is the national audio home of the entire MLB postseason and World Series. Its national broadcast gives listeners one consistent announcing team and production throughout each series.

The ESPN Radio stream can be found through the ESPN Radio website and participating ESPN Radio affiliates. ESPN Radio is also available through iHeartRadio, but check individual games and geographic availability before first pitch.

Listeners using a smart speaker can try a direct request such as:

• “Play ESPN Radio.”
• “Play ESPN Radio on iHeartRadio.”
• “Play the MLB game on ESPN Radio.”

Because voice assistants sometimes select a local ESPN-branded station instead of the national network, listen for the teams’ names and game introduction before assuming the correct broadcast is playing.

ESPN confirmed before the season that its national radio coverage would include the entire postseason and World Series.

Hear your team’s regular announcers with MLB+

Fans who prefer their team’s usual radio crew can listen through MLB+. The subscription provides live audio from all 30 teams without blackouts, letting listeners choose the home or visiting radio feed.

MLB+ is the service formerly known as MLB At Bat. It is available through the MLB app and MLB website. The audio subscription is separate from some television packages, so listeners should verify that their account includes live game audio.

The MLB+ subscription page confirms that live team audio is offered without blackouts.

This option is especially useful when the national broadcast is unavailable, when a listener wants familiar announcers or when local radio reception is poor.

Listen through SiriusXM

SiriusXM says every postseason game is available through its satellite service and app. Its MLB channels generally provide access to the participating teams’ radio broadcasts, while MLB Network Radio on channel 89 offers news, analysis, and discussion between games.

Channel assignments can change during the postseason. Check the SiriusXM MLB schedule before each game or search for the team inside the SiriusXM app.

A SiriusXM subscription is required.

Local radio remains an important option

Each postseason team also has a flagship radio station and regional affiliate network. These broadcasts may be available through AM or FM radio, a station website, the station’s app, or an internet-radio directory.

Online access to local stations is not guaranteed during games. A station may replace the game with other programming on its internet stream because of league rights restrictions. If that happens, try MLB+, ESPN Radio or SiriusXM rather than assuming the broadcast has been canceled.

An ordinary battery-powered radio can also be the simplest option when the flagship station is within reception range. It requires no account, app update, touchscreen, or internet connection.

Accessibility tips before the game begins

Blind and low-vision listeners should set up and test their preferred service before first pitch.

• Sign in and confirm that the subscription is active.
• Add the station or team feed to favorites.
• Test the play, pause, and volume controls with VoiceOver or TalkBack.
• Confirm whether playback can be started with Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant.
• Keep a second listening method ready in case a stream is unavailable.
• Check that the selected feed is carrying the game rather than studio discussion.

Do not wait until the final inning to discover that a voice assistant has selected the wrong station.

Why postseason baseball still belongs on radio

Television coverage may show every pitch, but baseball radio provides something different. The announcers must establish the setting, describe movement and explain the meaning of each play through sound.

For blind and low-vision fans, that description is not an optional enhancement. It is the game.

The 2026 postseason offers several ways to listen, from free local broadcasts to subscription services carrying every team. The best choice depends on whether the listener wants the national call, familiar hometown announcers, traditional radio reception or convenient streaming across several devices.

Whichever method you choose, test it early and keep the official MLB schedule nearby. October baseball can change quickly, and the radio call is often the best place to hear every moment.

About the Author

Barry Lee is the Podcast Curator at Web Radio Info. He specializes in discovering audio-first storytelling, human-hosted podcasts, and screen-free listening experiences available through podcast applications, smart speakers, and online audio platforms.