The Houston Astros are facing the potential end of their season Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox.
Game 2 of the American League wild-card series will again provide a challenge for some viewers to find amid changes to Major League Baseball’s national television package this season.
Wednesday’s game will air on NBCSN, a cable sports network without widespread carriage, and stream on Peacock. If the Astros extend the series, Thursday’s finale might air on NBC depending on how many games are played that day.
Here’s what you need to know to watch Game 2.
What is NBCSN?
NBCSN, which was relaunched late in 2025, existed from 1995 to 2021 under various names including the Outdoor Life Network and Versus. Probably its most notable use was for airing NHL games when NBC was the league’s national rightsholder from 2005-21.
Since its return, NBCSN is carried on just three cable/streaming carriers: Xfinity (the Houston area’s largest cable system), YouTube TV and Fubo. If you’re not a subscriber to one of those services, you will need to watch the Astros/White Sox series via Peacock.
What is Peacock?
Peacock, NBC’s streaming subscription service, aired one Astros game exclusively this year as part of the Fourth of July holiday dubbed Star Spangled Weekend. The service also streams all games that air concurrently on NBC and NBCSN.
A Peacock subscription plan with access to live sports starts at $12.99 a month. Free trials are not offered. Select Xfinity cable subscribers with certain levels of internet service may receive Peacock as part of their subscription.
Who’s announcing the games?
The crew calling the Astros/White Sox series is led by play-by-play man Tom McCarthy, who calls Philadelphia Phillies games. He’s joined by analysts Geoff Blum and Steve Stone – the TV analysts for the Astros and White Sox, respectively – along with field-level analyst Adam Ottavino, a former pitcher, and field reporter Britney Eurton.
Because NBC used analysts from the participating teams for its broadcasts this season, Blum, a staple of the Astros’ golden era, will finally get to call playoff games for the first time.
Other coverage
Space City Home Network, the Astros’ regional carrier, will not air games but will have postgame shows once the NBC broadcast ends. That continues a tradition that started in 2023 after the Astros and Rockets took over the network.
If you’re unable to watch the games, Sports Talk 790, the Astros’ radio flagship, will carry each game live with Robert Ford (play-by-play) and Steve Sparks (analyst) on the call.
Astros vs. White Sox schedule
(all games at Daikin Park)
Game 1:White Sox 6, Astros 3
Game 2: 4 p.m. Wednesday (NBCSN, Peacock)
*Game 3: TBA Thursday (NBC/NBCSN, Peacock)
* – if necessary
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This article originally published at What is NBCSN? How to watch Game 2 of Houston Astros’ AL wild-card series vs. Chicago White Sox.
