Reds free live streams: How to watch 2023 Cincinnati baseball games without cable

The Reds began the 2023 season with just a 2.3 percent chance to win the division and a projected record of 73-89. Coming off a disappointing 2022, the outlook for 2023 was largely dismal.

Fast-forward to the halfway point of the year, and Cincinnati just might be the most exciting team in the sport. Despite a myriad of injuries and poor performances from the rotation, the Reds find themselves riding a hot streak that put them in first place in the NL Central 81 games into the season with a young, explosive roster that has rapidly made the team must-watch TV.

What has made the team so exciting has been a wave of young talent that has ascended to the majors. Elly De La Cruz has been the franchise's most exciting player since Eric Davis, and has established already at age 21 why many believe he has superstar potential. Matt McLain rebounded from a down year in the minors in 2022 back up to top prospect status and has provided Cincinnati with yet another talent in the middle infield. Spencer Steer would be a leading candidate for NL Rookie of the Year with his on-base prowess and 12 home runs. Jonathan India has rebounded to his 2021 NL Rookie of the Year form, and T.J. Friedl has been a spark plug in the leadoff spot.

That's to say nothing of the veterans that have played big roles in the team's success, including Jake Fraley who is enjoying his best season in the big leagues to date, and future Hall of Famer Joey Votto, who has provided some power in his return from shoulder surgery. 

MORE: Watch Reds games live with Fubo (free trial)

The rest of the season should prove to be interesting. When projections prognosticated another down year in Cincinnati, it was largely without the expectation that De La Cruz, McLain and breakout starter Andrew Abbott would be playing major roles in the big leagues. Models run on the current Reds roster would likely look more favorably on Cincinnati.

And this hot streak has come even without some more backup that should arrive later in the year. Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo are expected to be out until August, and the Reds can still promote Triple-A masher Christian Encarnacion-Strand and strikeout machine Connor Phillips to further bolster the big league club.

The Reds have unexpectedly found themselves in the thick of a playoff chase, with the possibility of an NL Central title well within reach. Interested in watching Cincinnati to see if the second-youngest team in baseball can prove the numbers wrong and be an October Cinderella story? Here's what you need to know to watch the Reds the rest of the year.

FAGAN: Reds are baseball's most exciting .500-ish team

Reds live streams

A majority of Reds games will be carried by Bally Sports Ohio, a regional sports network owned by Diamond Sports Group. 

Fubo carries Bally Sports, which makes the streaming service one of the best options to watch Reds games during the 2023 campaign for those in the Cincinnati broadcasting region. Fubo offers a Pro and Elite package, both of which carry Bally Sports Ohio in local markets, as well as 174 channels.

MORE: What Bally Sports parent company bankruptcy could mean for MLB fans in 2023

How to watch Reds games without cable

There are several ways to watch the Reds in the local Cincinnati market without cable. However, out-of-market Reds fans will either have to wait for Cincinnati to be carried on national networks or on MLB.TV (which will black out games for fans in the local Bally Sports region).

— Fans in the Cincinnati market can use Fubo to get a stream of Bally Sports Ohio. Currently, every remaining Reds game is scheduled to be broadcast on Bally Sports Ohio, though that could change if ESPN, Apple TV+ or another major network picks up their game. Even if that were the case, Fubo carries ESPN, MLB Network and both Fox and FS1. Those outside the Cincinnati area will not be able to get Bally Sports Ohio on Fubo.

— There is also the option to find Bally Sports Ohio using DirecTV Stream, meaning fans in the local market can use that streaming service to watch most Reds games throughout the year. It will also have access to nationally broadcast games that aren't impacted by regional blackouts.

— YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV will carry select nationally broadcast Reds game that are carried on channels like Fox, ESPN, TBS and FS1. However, none of the services carries Bally Sports, meaning fans in the Cincinnati areas will not be able to access the broadcast of most games.

Reds schedule 2023

The Reds head into the All-Star break facing off against a disappointing Padres team and an NL East-worst Nationals squad before it starts a series with the division rival Brewers in what could be a fight for the top of the NL Central. Cincinnati will then host the Brewers for another three-game series right after the break before hosting the surging Giants and NL West-leading Diamondbacks.

Here's how the Reds are scheduled to play out the rest of the season. Broadcast schedule is subject to change.