Major League Baseball (MLB) fans have a lot to look forward to as the league has officially unveiled its 2025 regular-season schedule, offering a diverse and exciting array of games that span the globe. The announcement was made strategically on the final day of the 2024 All-Star break, providing an enticing glimpse into next year’s action.
An International Kickoff
The 2025 MLB season will commence with an overseas spectacle, as the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs are set to square off at the renowned Tokyo Dome on March 18-19. This international series will feature some of baseball's most electrifying talents, with Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto representing the Dodgers, while Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki take the field for the Cubs. This highly anticipated series marks MLB's first return to Japan since the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners launched their 2019 season in Tokyo.
Historic Opening Day
Back on American soil, the traditional Opening Day is set for Thursday, March 27. This date is historically significant as it will be the earliest traditional Opening Day in the annals of baseball history. All 30 teams will be in action, although only four divisional matchups will grace the initial day’s schedule. Notably, the Oakland Athletics will kick off their season with a four-game series in Seattle and will subsequently play their first-ever game in Sacramento on March 31, during a three-game series against the Cubs.
Season Highlights
The 2025 schedule has been designed with several key highlights meant to captivate baseball enthusiasts throughout the season. "Rivalry Weekend," scheduled from May 16-18, promises to be one of the standout ventures, featuring 11 series involving fierce division rivals and four series of geographic rivalries. Some interleague rivals are set to face each other in six-game showdowns, diverging from the customary four-game series, ensuring that no fan’s appetite for competitive baseball goes unsated.
All-Star Break and Midseason Events
Truist Park in Atlanta will be the epicenter of baseball festivities during the 2025 All-Star break. The 95th All-Star Game is slated for Tuesday, July 15. Preceding the main event, the Futures Game will take place on July 12, showcasing baseball’s brightest upcoming stars. The 2025 draft is scheduled to begin on July 13, followed by the fan-favorite Home Run Derby on July 14. This assembly of events guarantees a midseason break jam-packed with excitement for players and fans alike.
The Final Stretch
As the regular season draws to a close, teams will be fully engaged in the final push for postseason contention. All 30 teams will take the field on Sunday, September 28, the concluding day of the regular season. Eight of these matchups will be divisional showdowns, likely determining the fates of numerous playoff hopefuls. Setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling conclusion, the postseason will commence on Tuesday, September 30.
Plans and Adjustments
While the Tokyo Series is set as the sole international matchup for the 2025 season, there were initial ambitions to hold games in Paris, although those plans ultimately fell through. Despite this, the global scope of MLB continues to grow, with international games remaining a key component of the league's strategy to expand its reach and fanbase worldwide.
As we look forward to the 2025 season, MLB's innovative scheduling, historical milestones, and international engagements ensure it will be one for the ages. With teams' individual schedules now accessible on their official websites, fans can begin anticipating and planning for a season filled with memorable moments and intense competition.