As the Seattle Mariners open the 2026 season, fans are juggling two big questions: how to watch the games and whether this team can finally finish the job after coming within one game of the World Series. Here’s the latest on TV and streaming, roster moves and the player predictions shaping Seattle’s outlook.
How to watch the Mariners this season
The Mariners announced a new distribution plan after Root Sports Northwest shut down at the end of 2025 and Major League Baseball took over production and distribution of local broadcasts.
- Comcast/Xfinity: channel 1261 (home market).
- Charter/Spectrum: channel 414 (Seattle/Tacoma).
- DirecTV: channel 687.
The team added a channel finder on its website to help fans locate carriers by ZIP code, and said, “Fans who are already subscribed to providers carrying Mariners TV will automatically see the channel populate into their channel lineup.”
For cord-cutters, Mariners.TV remains a direct-to-consumer option: $99.99 for the season or $19.99 per month, with no local blackouts for viewers inside the home market. Out-of-market fans can still use the standard MLB.TV package.
Not every streaming provider carries the new channel immediately. A YouTube TV message noted: “Sorry, but the Seattle Mariners are not being offered by YouTube TV at this time. Please call them directly or click below to let them know you want the Seattle Mariners added to your channel lineup.” The club also said fans who bought Mariners.TV but later find it included in their cable/satellite package can request refunds.
The team’s TV guide lists several national exclusives this weekend: multiple games on Mariners.TV, one game on Apple TV and one on Peacock during the Opening Day series against the Cleveland Guardians at T-Mobile Park.
On-field outlook: rotation, roster and player bets
Expectations are high. After a 90-win season in 2025 and a one-game miss of the World Series, many projections — including a 90.5 win total at FanDuel — see Seattle improving in 2026.
Seattle’s pitching staff is the headline. The projected top five — Bryan Woo, Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Luis Castillo and Bryce Miller — are being called one of the league’s best rotations if they stay healthy. Woo’s recent seasons (including a 2.94 ERA and 198 strikeouts in 2025) have him in Cy Young conversations, while Gilbert is a two-time Opening Day starter known for strike-zone control.
Offensively, Julio Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh remain centerpiece talents. Julio has delivered consecutive 20/20 seasons and is a candidate for a career year; Raleigh followed a historic power season in 2025 and is expected to remain a primary run producer. The winter trade for utility Brendan Donovan adds defensive versatility and lineup depth.
Short-term predictions
- Julio Rodríguez: firm MVP candidate again and a likely top-five finish.
- Bryan Woo: potential top-three Cy Young contender if he stays healthy.
- Andrés Muñoz: poised for another high-save season and heavy late-inning usage.
Why it matters now
The distribution shakeup affects how fans watch every game, and the roster construction and rotation health will determine whether Seattle can turn last season’s near-miss into the franchise’s first World Series trip. Early-season availability on local providers, national exclusives and Mariners.TV pricing are immediate concerns for viewers. On the field, the club needs health and depth from its pitchers and production from its stars to clear the modest margin above a 90-win baseline.
What to watch next: the early-season health of the rotation, how Mariners.TV carriage expands to services like YouTube TV, and whether Julio, Woo and Muñoz hit the ceilings many analysts expect.