The burning question for baseball enthusiasts is: when does MLB season start? In 2025, the MLB season had an earlier start than usual, with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs facing off in the Tokyo Series. While this marked the official beginning for these two teams, the rest of the league is gearing up for their own Opening Day. Let’s dive into the details of the MLB season start dates for 2025.
Key Takeaways:
- The 2025 MLB season began with the Tokyo Series between the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, March 18th.
- Traditional MLB Opening Day for 26 other teams is on Thursday, March 27th.
- The Colorado Rockies and Tampa Bay Rays will start their season on Friday, March 28th due to stadium preparations.
Did the MLB Season Already Start? The Tokyo Series Explained!
Yes, for some teams, the 2025 MLB season has already begun! The Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers traveled to Tokyo, Japan, for a two-game series that counts towards the regular season. This marked the earliest start to an MLB regular season ever. The first game took place on Tuesday, March 18th, with the Dodgers securing a 4-1 victory.
Why Start the Season in Tokyo?
The MLB opted to start the season with the Tokyo Series to showcase the league’s global appeal and feature prominent Japanese stars like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Dodgers, and Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga of the Cubs (Source: USA Today). This marks the second consecutive year the MLB has started its season with games played overseas.
When is the Traditional MLB Opening Day for Most Teams?
For the majority of MLB teams (26 out of 30), Opening Day is scheduled for Thursday, March 27, 2025. On this day, a total of 14 games are on the schedule, kicking off the regular season for fans across North America (Source: Des Moines Register).
Opening Day Schedule: Thursday, March 27th (All Times Eastern)
| Time | Matchup |
|---|---|
| 3:05 PM | Milwaukee Brewers at New York Yankees |
| 3:07 PM | Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays |
| 4:05 PM | Texas Rangers at Boston Red Sox |
| 4:05 PM | Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals |
| 4:10 PM | Cleveland Guardians at Kansas City Royals |
| 4:10 PM | New York Mets at Houston Astros |
| 4:10 PM | San Francisco Giants at Cincinnati Reds |
| 4:10 PM | Atlanta Braves at San Diego Padres |
| 4:10 PM | Los Angeles Angels at Chicago White Sox |
| 4:10 PM | Pittsburgh Pirates at Miami Marlins |
| 4:15 PM | Minnesota Twins at St. Louis Cardinals |
| 7:10 PM | Detroit Tigers at Los Angeles Dodgers |
| 10:10 PM | Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks |
| 10:10 PM | Athletics at Seattle Mariners |
Which Teams Have a Delayed Start to Their Season?
Two teams, the Colorado Rockies and the Tampa Bay Rays, will begin their regular season on Friday, March 28th. Their game is scheduled for 4:10 PM ET (Source: Fox Sports).
Why the Delay for the Rockies and Rays?
The Tampa Bay Rays’ home opener was pushed back due to damage to Tropicana Field caused by Hurricane Milton in October. As a result, they will be playing their home games at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, where the New York Yankees hold their spring training. The extra day was needed to transition the ballpark (Source: Yahoo Sports).
Opening Day Starting Pitchers
Many teams have already announced their starting pitchers for Opening Day. For instance, Freddy Peralta will pitch for the Brewers against Carlos Rodón for the Yankees, and Zach Eflin will take the mound for the Orioles against José Berríos for the Blue Jays. You can find a comprehensive list of announced starting pitchers on various sports news outlets.
Stay tuned for more updates and exciting moments throughout the 2025 MLB season!
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