Major League Baseball (MLB) has unveiled the 2025 regular-season schedule, a moment eagerly awaited by fans and teams alike. Announced on the final day of the 2024 All-Star break, the new schedule is packed with exciting matchups and landmark events, promising a season filled with dynamic baseball action.
Opening Overseas
The 2025 season will commence with an international flair, as the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs are set to open the season with a two-game series at the iconic Tokyo Dome on March 18-19. This event marks MLB's return to Japan for the first time since the 2019 season opener between the Oakland Athletics and the Seattle Mariners in Tokyo.
Fans can look forward to seeing some of the sport’s brightest stars on the Tokyo stage. The Dodgers' roster will feature Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, while the Cubs will showcase talents like Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki. The clash between these marquee players is set to add a special touch to the season opener, igniting excitement on a global scale.
Historic Opening Day
The traditional Opening Day for the 2025 MLB season will take place on Thursday, March 27, the earliest in the history of the sport. All 30 teams will be in action, with four divisional matchups highlighting the slate of games. One of the standout series will be the Oakland Athletics facing off against the Seattle Mariners in a four-game set to kickstart their respective campaigns.
Moreover, the Athletics will make history on March 31 when they play their first-ever game in Sacramento. They will continue this historic moment with a three-game series against the Cubs starting on the same day.
No Paris, But Plenty of Rivalries
Though MLB had initially hoped to include games in Paris in the 2025 schedule, those plans unfortunately fell through, making the Tokyo Series the sole international event of the season.
The season will still feature intense competitions, particularly during the "Rivalry Weekend" set for May 16-18. This special weekend will spotlight 11 series involving division rivals and four series of geographic rivalries, offering fans a plethora of electrifying matchups. Additionally, some interleague rivals will engage in six games instead of the customary four, amplifying the stakes and intensity.
Midseason Festivities in Atlanta
A major highlight of the 2025 MLB season will be the 95th All-Star Game, hosted at Truist Park in Atlanta on Tuesday, July 15. The midseason festivities will include not only the All-Star Game but also the Futures Game on July 12, the start of the 2025 draft on July 13, and the ever-popular Home Run Derby on July 14. These events promise to bring a carnival-like atmosphere to the heart of summer, celebrating the best talents in baseball.
Season's End and the Postseason Push
The regular season is slated to conclude with a clash of all 30 teams on Sunday, September 28. The finale will be underscored by eight divisional matchups, ensuring a thrilling and competitive end to the regular schedule. Teams will be fighting for postseason berths right up until the last pitch, making the season's final days crucial for playoff positioning.
The postseason is set to begin on Tuesday, September 30, kicking off what promises to be a fierce quest for the World Series title. With the new schedule announcement, fans can start marking their calendars and teams can begin strategizing for what is shaping up to be an unforgettable 2025 MLB season.
Each team’s individual schedule is now accessible on their official websites, allowing fans and analysts alike to dive into the specifics and start speculating on how their favorite teams will fare in the upcoming season. The blend of historic firsts, international games, and intense rivalries sets the stage for a captivating journey from the first pitch in Tokyo to the final out of the World Series.