Updated: How to Watch All MLB Wild Card Games on Peacock For Free!

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man
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You may know the MLB Wild Card playoffs start Tuesday (September 29, 2026). But you may not know that you will need Peacock, the paid streaming service, to watch some of the games. But don’t worry. TV For Seniors will tell you how to watch all MLB Wild Card games on Peacock for free.

For the first time since 2000, NBC has MLB playoff games. NBC will air two Wild Card games per day during the first round. The other two games each day – one in each league — are exclusive to Peacock and NBCSN. Those are the first MLB postseason games ever exclusive to streaming.

That sounds like bad news if you’re not a Peacock subscriber. The streamer itself no longer offers a free trial and new customers pay $12.99 a month with ads or $19.99 with almost no ads.

But you do not have to pay that. There is a seven-day Peacock trial hiding inside Amazon’s Prime Video app. Start it today and you can watch the entire Wild Card series for free. And you don’t have to be an Amazon Prime member to get the free trial! Just set up a free Amazon account.

When The Wild Card Games Are

The 2026 Wild Card Series is a best-of-three. Four series, two leagues.

• Tuesday, Sept. 29: Game 1 of all four series

• Wednesday, Sept. 30: Game 2 of all four series

• Thursday, Oct. 1: Game 3 only if a series is tied

Update on Tuesday and Wednesday’s schedule, as of Sunday afternoon:

TUESDAY, SEPT. 29 — WILD CARD SERIES GAME 1

D/backs/Phillies @ Braves: 2 p.m. on NBC & Peacock
White Sox @ Rangers/Astros: 5 p.m. on Peacock & NBCSN
Red Sox @ Yankees: 8 p.m. on NBC & Peacock
Cubs @ Padres: 10 p.m. on Peacock & NBCSN

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 30 — WILD CARD SERIES GAME 2

D-backs/Phillies @ Braves: 2 p.m. on NBC & Peacock
White Sox @ Rangers/Astros: 5 p.m. on Peacock & NBCSN
Red Sox @ Yankees: 8 p.m. on NBC & Peacock
Cubs @ Padres: 10 p.m. on Peacock & NBCSN

Every game will stream on Peacock. Some also air on NBC and the NBC Sports Network. (Teams and first-pitch times are still being set as the regular season wraps Sunday. NBC Sports Network is only available on Fubo, YouTube TV and Xfinity.)

After Thursday’s Wild Card round is officially over, the picture changes. The American League Division Series moves to TBS and HBO Max. The National League Division Series moves to FOX. So this free-trial trick only covers the Wild Card round. Do not expect it to carry you through October.

One Caveat: Peacock free trials sometimes do not include certain movie titles but they have included live sports. But it’s always possible that they will restrict the Wild Card games during the trial. There is no indication that will happen but you’ve been informed just in case.

The Trial That Peacock Does Not Advertise

If you sign up for Peacock on peacocktv.com, you pay on day one. But sign up through Prime Video and Amazon will gift you a seven-day free trial of Peacock Premium Plus, the ad-free plan.

After seven days the trial turns into a paid add-on, recently listed around $16.99 to $19.99 a month depending on the offer Amazon shows you. But cancel before the trial ends and you’ll owe nothing.

How To Do It, Step By Step

1. On your TV, Fire Stick, phone, or computer, open the Prime Video app.

2. You need an Amazon account. Create one for free if you do not have one.

3. Go to Subscriptions or Channels. Search for Peacock. You can also search for Peacock in the regular Search bar.

4. Choose the Peacock Premium Plus add-on and start the 7-day free trial. You will have to put a card on file. That is normal. You will not be charged if you cancel in time.

5. Watch the Wild Card games inside Prime Video. You do not need a separate Peacock app if you signed up this way.

6. Cancel before the trial ends. On a computer, go to Amazon’s Manage Your Subscriptions page, find Peacock, and hit Unsubscribe. On the Fire TV or Prime Video app, open Your Account, then Subscriptions, then Peacock, and then cancel.

Start Today. Cancel Friday or Saturday

Start the trial today on Sunday, Sept. 27. Seven days takes you through Saturday, Oct. 3.

That covers:

•  Tuesday’s Game 1

•  Wednesday’s Game 2

•  Thursday’s Game 3, if one is needed

Set a phone alarm for Saturday morning, Oct. 3. (You also could cancel on Friday morning after the playoffs are over.) Cancel that day and you should not be billed. If you have doubts about forgetting, see our article, The Free Trial Trap.

What The TV Answer Man Would Do

I would start the Prime Video Peacock trial today, watch every Wild Card game I care about, and cancel Friday, October 2. I would not keep Peacock just because the playoffs continue. The next rounds are on other services. (You can start the trial today, September 27, and watch the entire Wild Card.)

If a grandchild or child (or you) already has Peacock, skip the trial and watch on their account. No sense opening a second bill.

And if you only want one game broadcast by NBC, skip the whole streaming dance. Turn on the antenna.

Offers change. Confirm the seven-day trial is still listed in Prime Video before you enter a card.

Are There Other Ways to Get Peacock For Free?

If you already pay for cable, you may not need a separate Peacock bill. (Peacock itself is not free for new standalone sign-ups.) The ad-supported Premium plan is often bundled with certain TV packages at no extra Peacock charge.

For example, Spectrum TV Select Signature, TV Select Plus, and TV Platinum include Peacock Premium with ads. (Internet-only and basic stream plans do not.) Log into your Spectrum account, go to Manage TV/Streaming, find Peacock, and activate. If you already pay Peacock through Roku, Apple, or Amazon, cancel that first so you are not billed twice.

Xfinity customers can get the same perk through Diamond or Platinum Rewards, NOW TV, or some Gigabit internet offers. Redeem it in your Xfinity membership or StreamStore account, then follow the activation email.

DirecTV satellite packages do not widely include Peacock. Always confirm eligibility in your provider account; offers change and last only while that TV or internet plan stays active.

Walmart+, the Amazon-like free shipping plan, includes your choice of Peacock Premium or Paramount+ Essential. (You can switch every 90 days.) Annual Walmart+ is about $98. AARP members can knock $40 off that, bringing it to about $58 a year. That is often cheaper than paying Peacock directly.

Have a question? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvanswerman.com

The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.