Want to watch the Cubs in playoffs on TV? You need access to TBS

Once again, the Chicago Cubs are in the playoffs, and just like last year, you can't watch them on free TV unless they make it to the World Series.

The Cubs start their repeat effort Friday night in the National League division series against the Washington Nationals. According to Major League Baseball's schedule, it will be broadcast on TBS, as will the subsequent games in the best-of-five-game matchup.

If the Cubs make it to the National League championship series, which starts Oct. 14, they will still be on TBS.

The World Series will be broadcast on over-the-air Fox stations, including WFLD in Chicago.

So, to watch Kyle Hendricks pitch Friday night you have to:

1. Get cable or satellite TV service. Make sure the provider carries TBS.

2. Subscribe to a streaming service, such as Sling, PlayStation Vue or Hulu Live TV.

Make sure that they carry TBS or MLB.TV in your ZIP code.

Then, you can watch games on your computer, tablet or smartphone, or an Internet-enabled television.

If you don't have a smart TV, you will need additional equipment to watch it, such as devices from Roku, Google Chromecast, Apple TV or the Amazon Fire TV Stick.