The Major League Baseball (MLB) community is buzzing as the league has unveiled the 2025 regular-season schedule during the final day of the 2024 All-Star break. With each team’s individual slate now accessible on their official websites, fans and analysts alike are diving into the details, anticipating a season filled with intriguing matchups and historic events.
Opening with a Bang, Tokyo Style
Setting the stage for an international kickoff, the 2025 season will begin with a series of games at the iconic Tokyo Dome. On March 18-19, the Los Angeles Dodgers will face off against the Chicago Cubs, marking MLB’s first return to Japan since the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners inaugurated the 2019 season in Tokyo. This opening series will not only feature the excitement of the initial games of the season but also a showcase of star talent, including Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto from the Dodgers, and Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki from the Cubs.
This return to Japan is a significant milestone, underscoring MLB’s commitment to expanding its global footprint. However, it's noteworthy that while the Tokyo Series stands as the sole international series on the 2025 calendar, MLB had initially hoped to feature games in Paris. Unfortunately, those ambitious plans did not come to fruition.
A Historic Opening Day
The traditional Opening Day is set for Thursday, March 27, and will see all 30 teams in action, the earliest in baseball history. Notably, there will be only four divisional matchups on this day, an unusual twist for fans accustomed to seeing inter-division rivalries ignite right from the start.
The Oakland Athletics will begin their season with a four-game series in Seattle. This year holds further significance for the Athletics as they are scheduled to play their first-ever game in Sacramento on Monday, March 31, a move that will surely excite fans in the Californian capital. Following this notable game, they will face the Cubs in a captivating three-game series starting March 31.
Season Highlights and Rivalries
Beyond the unique start, the 2025 schedule promises a slew of engaging matchups throughout the season. A highlight for many will be the "Rivalry Weekend," set for May 16-18. This special weekend will feature 11 series involving divisional rivals and four series of geographic rivalries, injecting an extra layer of intensity and excitement into mid-May. Some interleague rivalries will even extend to six games, deviating from the usual four-game format, providing fans with more opportunities to witness these heated contests.
Midseason Festivities
During the summer, all eyes will turn to Atlanta, where Truist Park will host the 95th All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 15. The festivities will kick off with the Futures Game on July 12, followed by the eagerly anticipated draft beginning on July 13. On July 14, the Home Run Derby will take center stage, promising a display of power hitting from the league’s best sluggers.
The Road to the Postseason
As the regular season winds down, it will conclude with all 30 teams in action on Sunday, September 28. The final day is set to feature intense competition with eight divisional matchups, possibly determining the final placements for the postseason. This strategic scheduling is designed to keep fans on the edge of their seats until the very last game. The postseason is tentatively slated to commence on Tuesday, September 30, aiming to crown the next champion of Major League Baseball.
With its international start, historic moments, and a string of exciting matchups throughout the season, the 2025 MLB schedule promises to be one of the most captivating in recent years. As teams and fans prepare for what lies ahead, the anticipation is thick in the air, setting the stage for a memorable year in baseball.