Major League Baseball (MLB) fans have something to anticipate as the league unveiled its 2025 regular-season schedule during the final day of the 2024 All-Star break. Each team's individual schedule has now been made accessible on their official websites, generating excitement and speculation among fans and analysts alike.
Opening in Tokyo
The 2025 season will commence with a significant international flair, as the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs are set to face off on March 18-19 at the iconic Tokyo Dome. This marks MLB's first return to Japan since the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners opened the 2019 season in Tokyo. The series promises to be a spectacle, featuring prominent stars like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto from the Dodgers, and Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki from the Cubs. The anticipation surrounding these games is palpable, as fans eagerly await the showcase of baseball talent on an international stage.
Traditional Opening Day
The traditional Opening Day is scheduled for Thursday, March 27, marking the earliest Opening Day in baseball history. On this historic day, all 30 teams will be in action, though only four divisional matchups are on the docket. Among these early games, the Athletics will initiate their season with a four-game series in Seattle. Adding to the novelty, the Athletics will play their first-ever game in Sacramento on Monday, March 31, facing the Cubs in a three-game series starting that day. The combination of these new venues and matchups adds a layer of intrigue to the early part of the season.
International and Domestic Highlights
The Tokyo Series between the Dodgers and Cubs is notably the only international series on the 2025 schedule. Initially, MLB had hopes to expand its global reach with games planned in Paris, but these plans unfortunately did not materialize. Despite this, the domestic schedule holds plenty of exciting events. "Rivalry Weekend," set for May 16-18, promises to be a highlight of the season. This weekend will feature 11 series involving division rivals and four geographic rivalries, with some interleague rivals squaring off for six games instead of the usual four. This intensification of rivalries is sure to captivate fans and generate intense, competitive atmospheres at ballparks around the league.
Midsummer Classic and Beyond
This season's All-Star festivities will be held at Truist Park in Atlanta, with the 95th All-Star Game set for Tuesday, July 15. The Futures Game will precede it on July 12, followed by the 2025 draft kicking off on July 13. The excitement crescendos with the Home Run Derby on July 14, an event eagerly anticipated for its display of hitting prowess and flair.
Season's End and Postseason
The regular season will conclude dynamically, with all 30 teams taking the field on Sunday, September 28. The finale will feature eight divisional matchups, setting the stage for a thrilling end to the regular season. Shortly afterward, the postseason will commence on Tuesday, September 30, ushering in the most intense and captivating part of the baseball year.
In unveiling the 2025 schedule, MLB has laid the groundwork for what promises to be an electrifying and historic season. From the international opening in Tokyo to the earliest traditional Opening Day, and the culmination of the regular season with critical divisional matchups, fans have much to look forward to. With global spectacles, historic firsts, and fierce rivalries, the stage is set for a memorable year of baseball.