Braves-Guardians On NBC & Peacock Tonight: How to Watch For Free
TV Answer Man, do you know how we can watch the Braves and Guardians without having to get a subscription for Sunday night? I don’t want Peacock!! – Josh, Atlanta.
Josh, tonight’s (April 12, 2026) MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Guardians will take place at 7 p.m. ET. The game will air exclusively on NBC and its streaming service, Peacock, which means it will not be available anywhere else including BravesVision and Guardians.TV, the regional sports channels for the two teams.
However, you do not have to subscribe to Peacock (minimum cost would be $10.99 a month for its live sports plan) or even subscribe to a pay TV service that includes NBC in its lineup. There are (at least) three ways to watch tonight’s game without paying an extra dime.
1. Get An Antenna
The easiest way to watch the Braves and Guardians tonight is using a TV antenna to catch the signal of your local NBC affiliate. If you already own an antenna, you wouldn’t have to pay an additional fee, subscription or otherwise. If you don’t own one, it might be worth investing in one for future occasions like this, assuming you live at a location where you can pick up your local station signals.
2. Get a Free Trial From a Streaming Service
DIRECTV streaming, which carries NBC in its lineup, offers a five-day free trial. Sign up today, watch the game, and then be sure to cancel prior to the end of the promotional period or you will be charged for the first month. (Note that the live streamer Fubo also offers a free trial but it does not have NBC in its lineup.) YouTube TV, which has NBC, too, is also offering a free trial now – and it’s for 10 days!
3. Get a Free Trial of Peacock
Peacock does not provide a free trial at its web site or app. However, you can go to Amazon Prime Video and sign up for a one-week free trial of Peacock’s $16.99 a month Premium Plus plan. Again, be sure to cancel prior to the end of the week or you will be charged for the first month.
Why Is the Game Exclusive to Peacock & NBC?
NBC signed a three-year $600 million agreement with Major League Baseball to get 25 exclusive primetime games a year.
There Is (Almost) Always a Workaround
Many fans frequently complain that the professional sports leagues are making it more difficult to watch your favorite teams. That’s undoubtedly true. More games are now only available on a select service or two. But there’s almost always a workaround for these dilemmas – and that’s why you need to read The TV Answer Man. This site is dedicated to making it easier, more enjoyable, and less expensive to watch your sports.
Who’s Pitching Tonight For Atlanta-Cleveland?
If you follow my advice, you can watch tonight’s game for free. Tanner Bibee is scheduled to start for Cleveland while All-Star lefty Chris Sale will start for Atlanta. Enjoy!
Josh, I hope that answers your question. Happy viewing and stay safe!
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