MLB Announces 2025 Regular-Season Schedule
In an exciting announcement, Major League Baseball (MLB) has unveiled the highly anticipated 2025 regular-season schedule, offering a glimpse into the upcoming season's thrilling matchups and key dates. The announcement was strategically timed to coincide with the final day of the 2024 All-Star break, building heightened anticipation among fans and teams alike.
Kickoff in Tokyo
The 2025 season will debut in grand fashion with games held overseas at the iconic Tokyo Dome. On March 18-19, the Los Angeles Dodgers will face off against the Chicago Cubs, bringing MLB action back to Japan for the first time since 2019. This high-profile series will feature some of the game’s brightest stars, including Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto from the Dodgers, and Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki from the Cubs. The return to Tokyo harkens back to when the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners opened the 2019 season in Japan, rekindling international excitement for America's pastime.
Historic Opening Day
The traditional Opening Day will follow shortly after, on Thursday, March 27. All 30 teams will be in action, marking the earliest traditional Opening Day in baseball history. Fans can look forward to a myriad of compelling matchups, although there will be only four divisional games to start the season. The Oakland Athletics will start their campaign with a four-game series in Seattle, followed by a historic home game in Sacramento on Monday, March 31, where they will host the Cubs in a three-game series.
International Ambitions and Rivalries
Despite earlier aspirations from the MLB to include games in Paris, those plans did not materialize, leaving the Tokyo Series as the sole international event on the 2025 calendar. Nevertheless, the league has plenty for fans to be excited about, including the highly anticipated "Rivalry Weekend" from May 16-18. This weekend will be packed with 11 divisional series and four sets of geographic rivalries, promising intense competition and regional bragging rights. Additionally, certain interleague matchups will involve six games, an increase from the usual four, adding more weight to these cross-league contests.
Midseason Festivities in Atlanta
Midseason will once again bring a slew of festivities centered around the All-Star Game, set for July 15 at Truist Park in Atlanta. The All-Star break will feature numerous fan-favorite events, including the Futures Game on July 12, the 2025 MLB Draft beginning on July 13, and the thrilling Home Run Derby on July 14. These events provide a showcase of both current stars and future talent, setting the stage for the second half of the season.
Season’s End and Postseason Picture
The regular season will come to a dramatic close with all 30 teams in action on Sunday, September 28. The day will feature eight divisional matchups, likely to have significant playoff implications. The postseason is scheduled to commence on Tuesday, September 30, as teams will vie for their chance to make a deep October run and contend for the World Series title.
Individual team schedules are now accessible on their official websites, allowing fans to plot out the games they will attend and follow throughout what promises to be an exciting 2025 MLB season. From international games in Tokyo to historic moments and heated rivalries, this season is shaping up to be one for the ages.