The Astros will have at least two games stream exclusively on Apple TV+ this season, including one during their opening series.
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The Silver Boot Series has emerged as one of Major League Baseball’s premier rivalries in recent years, with the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers exchanging considerable hostilities as they battle for Lone Star State supremacy. However, baseball fans in both the Metroplex and the Bayou City may encounter difficulties watching the two teams square off in Arlington on Friday night.
Game 2 of the four-game series between the Astros and Rangers will be broadcast exclusively on Apple TV+, while the game will be blacked out on Space City Home Network (SCHN), Houston’s usual broadcaster. Not a current subscriber to Apple TV+? Watching Friday’s game will then require a one-month subscription for $9.99, though a seven-day free trial is currently being offered.
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Reporter Heidi Watney of Apple TV+ interviews Jeremy Pena #3 of the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 08, 2022 in Anaheim, California.
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Houston sports fans are quite familiar with the annoyances caused by the proliferation of streaming services. Houston’s loss to the New York Mets on March 28 was similarly placed behind Apple TV+’s exclusive paywall, and in 2024, Houston had four games streamed on the service. Houston will also have two games streamed exclusively on Roku this season: Sunday’s series finale at Globe Life Field and an Aug. 3 game at Fenway Park in Boston. One small silver lining? The Roku games will not require a paid subscription to watch, according to a 2024 MLB release.
SCHN will broadcast only two of Houston’s four games in Arlington, which is disappointing for Astros’ fans accustomed to hearing the insights and expertise of Todd Kalas, Geoff Blum and Julia Morales. However, Houston’s home broadcasters will cover the most exciting matchup of the four-game set. Thursday’s series opener features a battle between two American League aces: one former Cy Young winner and one serious candidate for the award in 2025.
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May 15, 2025
