The Major League Baseball (MLB) community has received an eagerly anticipated update as MLB unveiled the 2025 regular-season schedule during the final day of the 2024 All-Star break. Fans and teams alike can now pore over the intricacies of each club's roadmap for the upcoming season as individual team schedules have gone live on their official websites.
Opening with a Bang in Tokyo
In a move set to captivate audiences far and wide, the 2025 season will kick off with international flair. The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs will clash at the Tokyo Dome on March 18-19, marking the league’s return to Japan after a six-year hiatus since the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners opened the 2019 season there. This opening series promises a stellar lineup, featuring baseball luminaries such as Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Dodgers, alongside Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki of the Cubs.
Historic Opening Day
Following the international opener, the traditional Opening Day is slated for Thursday, March 27. Notably, this will be the earliest Opening Day in MLB history, as fans across the league can look forward to all 30 teams being in action. Although there will be only four divisional matchups on this day, the excitement is set to be equally high across all ballparks.
Athletics' Noteworthy Season Start
The Oakland Athletics will commence their 2025 campaign with a four-game series in Seattle. This will be followed by a significant occasion on Monday, March 31, when they play their inaugural game in Sacramento. The Athletics will continue their journey by confronting the Cubs in a three-game series starting on the same date.
International and Rivalry Weekends
While the Tokyo series is the sole international highlight on the 2025 schedule, MLB had initially considered expanding its global footprint to Paris. However, those plans did not materialize. The schedule does, however, include a highly anticipated "Rivalry Weekend" from May 16-18. During this weekend, fans will be treated to 11 series featuring division adversaries and four series spotlighting geographic rivalries. This includes some interleague rivalries playing six games instead of the usual four, adding an extra layer of rivalry drama and excitement.
All-Star Festivities in Atlanta
The mid-season festivities are set to reach a crescendo at Truist Park in Atlanta, where the 95th All-Star Game will be held on Tuesday, July 15. The All-Star week promises a plethora of activities, starting with the Futures Game on July 12, followed by the 2025 MLB Draft beginning on July 13 and the ever-popular Home Run Derby on July 14.
Season's Final Stretch
As the regular season draws to a close, fans can mark their calendars for Sunday, September 28, when all 30 teams will be in action. The season will conclude with a lineup of eight divisional matchups, ensuring a thrilling finish that sets the stage for the postseason. The quest for the World Series title will commence just two days later, on Tuesday, September 30.
The 2025 MLB season is brimming with historic firsts, international rivalries, and festive mid-season events that promise to keep fans on the edge of their seats. With schedules now in hand, teams and supporters alike can begin the countdown to what is poised to be an unforgettable baseball season.