So, you’re trying to figure out how to watch Padres game today, and honestly, it’s a lot more complicated than it used to be back when every single game was just on basic cable. Major League Baseball basically blew up the old model when Diamond Sports Group—the folks behind Bally Sports San Diego—hit financial trouble. Now, the San Diego Padres are one of the few teams where the league itself actually handles the broadcasts. It’s better in some ways, but if you don't know where to click, you're just staring at a blank screen or a "content not available in your area" message.
You’ve got a few distinct paths here depending on whether you live in the Gaslamp Quarter or if you're tuning in from somewhere like Chicago or New York.
The MLB.TV situation and that local blackout headache
If you live in San Diego, the standard MLB.TV package is usually a trap. Normally, MLB.TV is for "out-of-market" fans. If you're a Padres fan living in Seattle, it's great. But for the locals? You need the specific "Padres.TV" add-on.
This is the big shift. Since 2023, MLB has been producing the games directly. You can get a season pass or a monthly subscription specifically for the Padres. It’s basically a direct-to-consumer play. You don't need a massive cable package with 200 channels you never watch just to see Manny Machado hit a moonshot. You just pay for the team.
Wait. There’s a catch.
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Even with the Padres.TV sub, you still get blacked out when the team plays on national TV. If they are on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball, or if Fox is doing a national broadcast, your Padres.TV stream will be dark. It’s annoying. Every fan hates it. But that’s the legal reality of sports contracts in 2026.
Watching on traditional cable or satellite
Not everyone has cut the cord yet. If you still have Cox, Spectrum, or AT&T U-verse, you’re mostly in the clear, but the channel numbers are weird. It’s usually listed as "SD Padres" or something similar on the program guide.
For those on DirecTV, it’s typically channel 694-3.
It’s funny how we’ve circled back to cable being the "easy" way, even if it's the most expensive. You just turn on the box and there's Don Orsillo and Mark Grant. Speaking of those two, they are arguably the best duo in baseball. Their chemistry is why people go through all this technical trouble in the first place. Watching a game on mute just isn't the same experience.
Fubo and the streaming alternatives
If you’re a "cord-cutter" but you still want that cable-like experience, Fubo is pretty much the main player left that carries the local San Diego feed. Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV famously dropped most regional sports networks (RSNs) years ago.
Fubo is pricey. You’re looking at a significant monthly bill.
The upside is that you get the pre-game and post-game shows. A lot of the cheaper streaming options just give you the first pitch to the final out. If you want to see the locker room interviews and the deep-dive analysis into whether the bullpen is overused, Fubo or a traditional provider is the way to go.
Is the game on national TV today?
Check the schedule. Seriously.
If the Padres are playing the Dodgers or the Yankees, there is a massive chance the game is on:
- ESPN (Sunday nights)
- FOX (Saturday afternoons)
- FS1 (Random weeknights)
- Apple TV+ (Friday Night Baseball)
- The Roku Channel (Sunday morning "Leadoff" games)
Apple TV+ is the one that catches people off guard. You can’t watch those games on MLB.TV or cable. You have to have the Apple TV app. The good news is they usually offer free trials, but the bad news is you have to remember to cancel it before they charge you ten bucks next month.
What about free options?
Legally? Not many.
MLB usually features one "Free Game of the Day" on their website. You just need a registered account (which is free). If the Padres happen to be that game, you’re in luck. But with 30 teams in the league, the math says that only happens once every couple of weeks.
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Radio is the ultimate "free" hack. 97.3 The Fan carries the games in San Diego. There is something timeless about listening to Jesse Agler call a game while you're grilling or driving. If you’re outside San Diego, you can get the radio feed through the MLB app for a couple of dollars a month. No blackouts on radio. Ever.
Technical troubleshooting for the stream
Nothing is more frustrating than paying for a sub and seeing a spinning circle. If you’re watching on a laptop, clear your cache. It sounds like generic advice, but MLB’s web player is notoriously finicky with old cookies.
If you're using a VPN to try and bypass blackouts, be careful. MLB has gotten really good at flagging known VPN IP addresses. You might find yourself mid-inning when the screen suddenly goes purple with an error code. If you must use one, ensure it's a dedicated IP, though even that isn't a guarantee anymore.
Getting the right setup for the postseason
If you are looking for how to watch Padres game today and it happens to be October, throw everything I just said out the window.
The local broadcasts end when the regular season ends. In the playoffs, everything moves to TBS, FOX, FS1, and ABC. You won't find the games on the local San Diego feed because the national networks buy the exclusive rights. It’s a different vibe, and honestly, we all miss Don and Mud during the playoffs, but that’s the business.
Actionable steps for right now:
- Check the opponent: If it's a high-profile matchup, check the ESPN and FOX schedules first.
- Verify your location: If you’re inside San Diego County, your best bet is the Padres.TV package via MLB.com or a Fubo subscription.
- Download the apps early: Don't wait until 7:02 PM to download the Apple TV or MLB app. The login process always takes longer than you think.
- Sync the radio: If you hate the national announcers, mute the TV and pull up the 97.3 The Fan feed. You might have to pause the TV for a few seconds to get the audio in sync, but it's worth it for a better broadcast experience.