How to watch Astros games without cable: Full TV schedule, streams for 2023 Opening Day & more

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Houston Astros World Series Champions Campeones Serie Mundial
(Getty Images)

Houston … has no problems.

The Astros seemingly put to rest years of criticism and doubts about their legitimacy as a baseball superpower with their World Series win over the Phillies in 2022. Now, they get to prove it all again.

The 'Stros are back and just as good as they were in 2022, albeit with a small hiccup: second baseman José Altuve is on the shelf until late May while he recovers from a fractured thumb suffered in the World Baseball Classic. Aside from that, it's all systems go for Houston.

The lineup will get, what they hope, is a big boost at first base from José Abreu. He's expected to add some more power this year, joining fellow boppers Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker and budding-star shortstop Jeremy Peña. 

MORE: Watch Astros games with Fubo (free trial)

If you're ready for big-time baseball in Space City, here's how to catch Astros games this year without cable:

How to watch Astros games without cable

For viewers in market, AT&T SportsNet Southwest is the home of Astros baseball through the 2023 season. For those who want to cut the cord, however, there are a few other options. MLB's blackout restrictions apply:

Fubo carries AT&T SportsNet Southwest as part of its package. Fubo also offers a free trial. With the MLB.tv add-on ($24.99), viewers can also watch as much out-of-market baseball as they please.

— For viewers in-market, DirecTV Stream carries AT&T SportsNet Southwest in its $99.99 per month Choice package. 

MORE: MLB blackout restrictions, explained

— If you live outside the Astros' TV market, you can watch games via MLB.TV.  For $129.99 for the season or $24.99 per month, you can catch every game from every team. You can also pick a single-team option for $109.99 a year. Again, this is only if you are outside the Houston TV market: if you are inside the Astros' market, games will be blacked out. Games will also be blacked out if you live outside the Astros' market, but in the market of teams they are visiting. 

— For nationally televised games, there are a few options, with some exceptions: Fubo, SlingTV, and DirecTV Stream all carry ESPN, MLB Network and FS1. YoutubeTV and Hulu + Live TV carry ESPN and FS1, but they do not carry MLB Network in 2023.

You can check if games are blacked out in your area using MLB's blackout tool.

Astros schedule 2023

The defending World Series champs have a number of nationally televised games over their first month of the season, including their season opener vs. the White Sox on Thursday.

Here's how to catch their games through the first month of the 2023 season:

Date Opponent First pitch (ET) TV channel
Thursday, March 30 vs. Chicago White Sox 7:08 p.m. ESPN
Friday, March 31 vs. Chicago White Sox 8:10 p.m. MLBN
Saturday, April 1 vs. Chicago White Sox 2:10 p.m. ATTSN
Sunday, April 2 vs. Chicago White Sox 2:10 p.m. ATTSN
Monday, April 3 vs. Detroit Tigers 8:10 p.m. ATTSN
Tuesday, April 4 vs. Detroit Tigers 8:10 p.m. ATTSN
Wednesday, April 5 vs. Detroit Tigers 2:10 p.m. ATTSN
Thursday, April 6 at Minnesota Twins 4:10 p.m. ATTSN, MLBN (OOM)
Saturday, April 8 at Minnesota Twins 2:10 p.m. ATTSN
Sunday, April 9 at Minnesota Twins 2:10 p.m. ATTSN
Monday, April 10 at Pittsburgh Pirates 6:35 p.m. ATTSN
Tuesday, April 11 at Pittsburgh Pirates 6:35 p.m. ATTSN
Wednesday, April 12 at Pittsburgh Pirates 12:35 p.m. ATTSN
Friday, April 14 vs. Texas Rangers 8:10 p.m. ATTSN, MLBN (OOM)
Saturday, April 15 vs. Texas Rangers 7:10 p.m. ATTSN, MLBN (OOM)
Sunday, April 16 vs. Texas Rangers 7:08 p.m. ESPN
Monday, April 17 vs. Toronto Blue Jays 8:10 p.m. ATTSN
Tuesday, April 18 vs. Toronto Blue Jays 8:10 p.m. ATTSN
Wednesday, April 19 vs. Toronto Blue Jays 8:10 p.m. ATTSN
Friday, April 21 at Atlanta Braves 7:20 p.m. Apple TV+
Saturday, April 22 at Atlanta Braves 7:20 p.m. ATTSN
Sunday, April 23 at Atlanta Braves 1:30 p.m. ATTSN, MLBN (OOM)
Monday, April 24 at Tampa Bay Rays 6:40 p.m. ATTSN, MLBN (OOM)
Tuesday, April 25 at Tampa Bay Rays 6:40 p.m. ATTSN
Wednesday, April 26 at Tampa Bay Rays 6:40 p.m. ATTSN
Friday, April 28 vs. Philadelphia Phillies 8:10 p.m. ATTSN
Saturday, April 29 vs. Philadelphia Phillies 5:10 p.m. MLBN
Sunday, April 30 vs. Philadelphia Phillies 7:08 p.m. ESPN
Author(s)
Joe Rivera Photo

Joe Rivera is a senior content producer at The Sporting News and teaches Multimedia Sports Reporting at his alma mater, Rutgers University.