2020’s shortened MLB season will come to an end this week and baseball will crown a new champion – but who will it be? The 2020 World Series is now well under way as the Los Angeles Dodgers take on the Tampa Bay Rays in of a best-of-seven series that’s tantalisingly poised at 2-2. Follow our guide below for all the ways you can get a World Series live stream and watch the Dodgers vs Rays game 5 online from anywhere tonight.
2020 World Series live stream
Game 5 of the 2020 World Series begins at 8.08pm ET / 5.08pm PT today (Sunday, October 25). It’s being shown nationally on TV by Fox in the US and full streaming details can be found below – take your preferred MLB coverage with you wherever by using a good VPN.
Baseball’s most remarkable season just keeps getting stranger – the incredible conclusion to game 4 proved that once again, with a double error from the usually reliable Dodgers defence allowing record breaking rookie Randy Arozarena to scamper home for the winning run. Star pitchers Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw go at it tonight – but which will propel their franchise to a series lead?
Los Angeles got out to a 1-0 lead in the Fall Classic after pounding Tampa Bay 8-3 in the opener, but the Rays fought back in game 2, jumping out to an early lead and holding on to win 6-4 to level the series. Game 3 saw the Dodgers climb wrest back control, prevailing 6-2 behind some exceptional pitching from ace Walker Buehler. And then came a ding dong game 4 battle.
LA are a team built not just to make it to the Fall Classic, but to win it all this year. For while the storied franchise has six World Series championships to its name, it hasn’t triumphed since 1988, most recently suffering back-to-back World Series losses in 2017 and 2018. The comparatively young Rays franchise may not have a single World Series championship, but no one’s counting them out.
It all makes for one of the most intriguing Fall Classics we’ve had in a while, so read on as we explain how to get a 2020 World Series live stream and watch the Dodgers vs Rays game 5 online.
How to watch MLB blackout games and stream baseball from abroad
A VPN – or Virtual Private Network in full – is becoming an essential bit of kit for baseball fans for two reasons. Firstly, to get around MLB’s blackout rules that hamstrings the use of its otherwise comprehensive MLB.TV streaming service. VPNs generally help you get around this by allowing you to relocate your IP address to a different location and watch as if you were somewhere entirely different.
Secondly, VPNs are great if you’re abroad and want to access the same streaming services you do at home. Some of our favorite platforms like Sling TV and BT Sport are geo-restricted, so if you’re out of the country on holiday or vacation you won’t necessarily be able to access the services and content you pay for back home.
Again, a VPN is your friend here as it will let you dial back in to a domestic server location and therefore access the same MLB live stream you would in your home country. But which one to choose?
Use a VPN to watch a World Series live stream from anywhere
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World Series 2020: full schedule and results
The full schedule, times, dates and results for the 2020 World Series are as follows.
Game 1: Los Angeles Dodgers win 8-3
Game 2: Tampa Bay Rays win 6-4
Game 3: Los Angeles Dodgers win 6-2
Game 4: Tampa Bay Rays win 8-7
Game 5: Sunday, October 25 at 8.08pm / 5.08pm PT / 12.08am GMT / 11.08am AEDT
Game 6: Tuesday, October 27 at 8.08pm ET / 5.08pm PT / 12.08am GMT / 11.08am AEDT
Game 7: Wednesday, October 28 at 8.09pm ET / 5.09pm PT / 12.09am GMT / 11.09am AEDT*
* If required
World Series live stream: how to watch Rays vs Dodgers game 5 in the US
The 2020 World Series is being shown by Fox on TV, which means that you can also watch online, on the Fox mobile app and on any supported devices – all assuming you have your cable details at hand.
MLB.TV doesn’t appear to have the rights to show any of the games live, as they’ll be completely blacked out. If you’re from another territory that would have access and find yourself in the US for the Fall Classic, then you’ll hampered by these local blackout restrictions – but you can get around this by taking the VPN route, per our guide above, and pointing your computer back to a server in your own country.
How to watch MLB playoffs on local TV
Regional TV networks are baseball fans’ bread and butter, bringing you day-in, day-out coverage of all your local team’s games. Examples include KLAA and Fox Sports West (Los Angeles) and Fox Sports Sun (Tampa Bay).
They’ll typically have a streaming option built-in to their website, which you’ll be able to access by signing in with details of your TV provider.
How to watch MLB playoffs without cable
If you don’t have cable but still want to see the Dodgers and Rays do battle, you’re in luck. There are plenty of over-the-top streaming services that will let you watch, and most have free trials. We’ve listed the most popular below – roughly in order of how appealing they are to us as baseball fans and limited to those that have Fox. All prices are per month.
Sling TV $55 – All the cable channels a baseball fan needs to watch the biggest games in one place. A combined Sling Blue and Orange package for $45 covers ESPN, TBS and Fox Sports, while $10 adds Sports Extra and MLB Network (plus NHL Network, NBA TV, beIN Sports, ESPN U, Tennis Channel and more). On balance, our favorite option and you can try a FREE Sling TV trial – but note local coverage is limited.Hulu $54.99 – A good option, Hulu with Live TV includes ESPN, ESPN2, Fox, FS1 and TBS but does not come with the MLB Network. It does, however, offer local networks in select markets. Free trial offered.AT&T TV Now $55 – Another solid offering, AT&T TV Now gets you ESPN, Fox Sports and TBS but, again, not MLB Nework. Local TV coverage is available in select markets. Free trial offered.YouTube TV $64.99 – The best option after Sling, YouTube TV includes ESPN, ESPN2, Fox, FS1, MLB Network and TBS. Many local networks and regional networks are also covered, six accounts are included in the price, and a free trial is available.
How to live stream the World Series in Canada
Baseball fans with a cable subscription will be able to watch every game of the World Series on Sportsnet. Alternatively, you can sign up to Sportsnet Now, which is perfect for cord-cutting fans in Canada and costs $9.99 for a 7-day pass or from $16.67 a month if you sign up for a longer term.
The other great option is again MLB.TV, which is available in Canada, with only the Blue Jays subject to blackouts – and that’s now a moot point.
And don’t forget that using a VPN is the way to get an MLB playoffs live stream if you’re away from Canada when the game you want to watch is on.
How to live stream Rays vs Dodgers game 5 in the UK
BT Sport has the rights to the MLB playoffs in the UK and that includes the World Series 2020. You’ll find all the channels you need available through one of BT’s many TV bundles, or as an add-on for Sky TV and Virgin Media customers.
For cord cutters, BT now offers the option of watching BT Sport without locking yourself into a lengthy contract by way of its £25 Monthly Pass.
If you find yourself outside the UK and want to watch one of the MLB playoff games, don’t worry about geo-blocks on your account – simply grab a VPN and follow the instructions above to live stream the action.
Rays vs Dodgers live stream in Australia
If you live in Australia and want to watch the World Series then ESPN (available through Foxtel) will be broadcasting the game, and you can also stream it to your laptop or mobile device using the Foxtel Go app, but you’ll need your Foxtel ID to access the app.
Thankfully, the excellent Kayo Sports is also showing the World Series Down Under.
The streaming service has a Basic and a Premium plan, with the difference being you can watch on two devices with the Basic plan for $25 per month and on three devices with the Premium plan for $35 per month. The best news? Both plans come with a FREE 14-day trial, so if you’re looking just to watch a specific game or two you can cancel after the 14 days.
ALCS and NLCS results: how did the Dodgers and Rays get to the World Series?
It took a dramatic Cody Bellinger homer in the 7th inning of game 7 of the NLCS against the Atlanta Braves to get the Dodgers to this point – but with a star-studded lineup led by the irrepressible Mookie Betts and ace Clayton Kershaw, they entered the 2020 World Series as firm favorites.
For the Tampa Bay Rays, their place in the Fall Classic came as more of a surprise. They’ve been underdogs throughout this year’s playoffs, first beating the Yankees in the ALDS and then somehow managing to halt the Astros’ remarkable bid to come back from an 0-3 series deficit, with Tampa digging deep to win game 7 of the ALCS 4-2. They may not have any $365 million men on their team – but they’ve got a whole lotta heart.
World Series 2020: new MLB rules and format changes
There were a number of rule changes in place for the 2020 MLB regular season due to its shortened nature. The three you really need to know about are:
The designated hitter (DH) position has been added to National League batting ordersRelief pitchers are required to face a minimum of three battersGames that go to extra innings will see teams start with a runner on second base
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