Major League Baseball (MLB) has taken the opportunity of the final day of the 2024 All-Star break to unveil its highly anticipated 2025 regular-season schedule. Fans can now visit each team's official website to access individual schedules and start marking their calendars for the upcoming season.
The season opener promises to be an exciting international event, as the MLB makes its return to Japan for the first time since 2019. The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs will face off at the Tokyo Dome on March 18-19. This unique series will highlight some of the sport's top talents, with Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto suiting up for the Dodgers and Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki representing the Cubs. This event not only rekindles MLB's relationship with its Japanese fan base but also offers a global stage for showcasing baseball's international stars.
The traditional Opening Day is scheduled for Thursday, March 27, with all 30 MLB teams set to be in action. This date will go down in history as the earliest traditional Opening Day ever recorded. Fans can look forward to an exhilarating start, although only four of the matchups will be divisional encounters. The Oakland Athletics are set to kick off their season with a four-game series in Seattle, followed by a historic first-ever game in Sacramento on March 31 where they will begin a three-game series against the Cubs.
As of now, the Tokyo Series remains the sole international component of the 2025 schedule. MLB had aspirations to include games in Paris, but those plans were ultimately unsuccessful. Nonetheless, the Tokyo Series is expected to be a major highlight and a thrilling way to begin the season.
Rivalry Weekend
One of the standout moments of the 2025 schedule is "Rivalry Weekend," set for May 16-18. This weekend will showcase intense competition, featuring 11 series involving division rivals and an additional four series based on geographic rivalries. Some interleague rivals will play six games during the season, instead of the usual four—further intensifying the competitive spirit.
All-Star Break and Postseason Highlights
The 95th All-Star Game will be a focal point of the summer, hosted at Truist Park in Atlanta on Tuesday, July 15. Leading up to the All-Star game, fans can also look forward to the Futures Game on July 12, the 2025 MLB Draft commencing on July 13, and the highly anticipated Home Run Derby on July 14. This collection of events will transform Atlanta into the epicenter of baseball excitement, offering a week-long celebration of the sport.
The 2025 regular season will have a dramatic conclusion with all 30 teams playing on Sunday, September 28. The final day will be packed with crucial games, including eight divisional matchups that could very well decide playoff berths and seedings. Following this, the postseason will kick off on Tuesday, September 30, setting the stage for another thrilling chase for the World Series title.
With a schedule packed with must-watch events and marquee matchups, the 2025 MLB season is poised to captivate fans around the globe. From the international opener in Tokyo to the historic Rivalry Weekend and the excitement of the All-Star festivities in Atlanta, there is plenty to look forward to. Baseball enthusiasts can expect a year filled with unforgettable moments and the raw excitement that defines America's pastime.