Baseball aficionados, get ready to celebrate! The MLB regular season has kicked off earlier than ever in 2025, and there’s a lot to be excited about.
The Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers have already started their season with the Tokyo Series, while the rest of the league is gearing up for their Opening Day on March 27.
MLB 2025 Season Kicks Off with Tokyo Series
The 2025 MLB season began with a unique twist, as the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers traveled to Tokyo for a two-game series that counts toward the regular season.
This early start brought excitement and international flair to the game, with the Dodgers winning the first game 4-1 thanks to a stellar performance by Yoshinobu Yamamoto and timely hitting from Shohei Ohtani.
Highlights from the Tokyo Series
The Tokyo Series showcased some of the best talent in baseball, featuring Japanese stars like Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki for the Dodgers, as well as Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga for the Cubs.
The series not only highlighted the growing international appeal of MLB but also set the stage for an exciting season ahead.
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The Cubs and Dodgers will play another game in Tokyo before returning to the U.S. to finish spring training. Despite their early start, both teams will join the rest of the league for domestic Opening Day on March 27.
Domestic Opening Day: March 27, 2025
For the majority of MLB teams, Opening Day is set for Thursday, March 27, 2025. A total of 14 games are scheduled, promising a full day of baseball action.
The Milwaukee Brewers and New York Yankees will kick things off at 3:05 p.m. ET, followed by the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays two minutes later.
Full Schedule for March 27
Here’s a complete list of the games scheduled for March 27, with all times in Eastern Time:
- 3:05 p.m. – Milwaukee Brewers at New York Yankees
- 3:07 p.m. – Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays
- 4:05 p.m. – Texas Rangers at Boston Red Sox
- 4:05 p.m. – Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals
- 4:10 p.m. – Cleveland Guardians at Kansas City Royals
- 4:10 p.m. – New York Mets at Houston Astros
- 4:10 p.m. – San Francisco Giants at Cincinnati Reds
- 4:10 p.m. – Atlanta Braves at San Diego Padres
- 4:10 p.m. – Los Angeles Angels at Chicago White Sox
- 4:10 p.m. – Pittsburgh Pirates at Miami Marlins
- 4:15 p.m. – Minnesota Twins at St. Louis Cardinals
- 7:10 p.m. – Detroit Tigers at Los Angeles Dodgers
- 10:10 p.m. – Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks
- 10:10 p.m. – Athletics at Seattle Mariners
Special Circumstances for the Rays and Rockies
While most teams will start their season on March 27, the Colorado Rockies and Tampa Bay Rays will play their first regular-season game on March 28.
This delay is due to Hurricane Milton, which damaged Tropicana Field in October. As a result, the Rays will play their home games at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the Yankees’ spring training facility.
Opening Day Matchup for the Rays and Rockies
The Rockies and Rays will face off at 4:10 p.m. ET on March 28. This extra day gives stadium workers time to transition the ballpark from Yankees to Rays, ensuring a smooth start to the season for both teams.
Starting Pitchers for Opening Day
With the regular season fast approaching, many teams have already announced their starting pitchers for Opening Day. Here are the matchups:
- Freddy Peralta (MIL) vs. Carlos Rodón (NYY)
- Zach Eflin (BAL) vs. José BerrÃos (TOR)
- Garrett Crochet (BOS) vs. Nathan Eovaldi (TEX)
- Zack Wheeler (PHI) vs. MacKenzie Gore (WAS)
- TBD (CLE) vs. Cole Ragans (KCR)
- Clay Holmes (NYM) vs. Framber Valdez (HOU)
- Logan Webb (SFG) vs. Hunter Greene (CIN)
- Chris Sale (ATL) vs. Michael King (SDP)
- Yusei Kikuchi (LAA) vs. Sean Burke (CWS)
- Paul Skenes (PIT) vs. Sandy Alcantara (MIA)
- Pablo López (MIN) vs. Sonny Gray (STL)
- Tarik Skubal (DET) vs. TBD (LAD)
- TBD (CHC) vs. TBD (ARI)
- Luis Severino (ATH) vs. Logan Gilbert (SEA)
- TBD (COL) vs. Shane McClanahan (TBR)
National Broadcasts for Opening Day
Fans across the country can catch the excitement of Opening Day with two nationally broadcast games on ESPN. The Brewers vs. Yankees game at 3:05 p.m. ET and the Tigers vs. Dodgers game at 7:10 p.m. ET will both be available for viewers nationwide.
Exciting Matchups to Watch
Opening Day always brings a sense of anticipation and excitement, and this year is no different. Key matchups to watch include:
- Freddy Peralta (Brewers) vs. Carlos Rodón (Yankees)
- Garrett Crochet (Red Sox) vs. Nathan Eovaldi (Rangers)
- Chris Sale (Braves) vs. Michael King (Padres)
- Paul Skenes (Pirates) vs. Sandy Alcantara (Marlins)
Conclusion
The 2025 MLB season is off to an exciting start with the Tokyo Series and a packed schedule for Opening Day.
With international stars, thrilling matchups, and a full day of baseball action, fans have plenty to look forward to.
For more details on the MLB Opening Day 2025 schedule, starting pitchers, and Tokyo Series, check out the full article on Yahoo Sports.
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