MLB introduced its 2025 regular-season schedule and for the sixth time the season will start in Japan adopted by having all 30 groups slated to play on Thursday, March 27, for the normal Opening Day — marking the earliest Opening Day in historical past (the season started on March 28 in 2019 and 2024).
The season will even function “rivalry weekend” from Could 16-18. Alongside those self same strains, “prime” interleague rivals will improve their variety of video games from 4 to 6, taking part in a pair of three-game sequence somewhat than two two-game sequence.
Let’s take a look at a number of the key highlights and large sequence we’re already trying ahead to for subsequent 12 months:
It will mark the twenty fifth anniversary of the primary season-opening sequence in Japan, when the Cubs performed the Mets. The final time the season opened in Japan was 2019, when the Mariners performed the A’s, in what was a send-off for Ichiro Suzuki, as he performed the ultimate two video games of his profession.
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It will mark Shohei Ohtani’s return to Japan (apart from early-round video games within the World Baseball Basic) since he signed with the Angels in 2018. Good luck getting a ticket to this one. In fact, the large query heading into that sequence can be whether or not he’ll be able to pitch — and whether or not we’ll get a matchup between Ohtani and Cubs starter Shota Imanaga, who additionally can be taking part in in Japan for the primary time since coming to MLB.
The Dodgers will undoubtedly watch out in bringing Ohtani again from his second elbow surgical procedure and the sport will happen mid-to-late spring coaching, so even when he does pitch, it could possible be a brief outing. On the minimal, we’ll possible no less than see Imanaga pitching to Ohtani. Imanaga has confronted the Dodgers as soon as this season, again in April, and Ohtani went 0-for-2 with a strikeout in opposition to him. The sequence will even be a homecoming for Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki.
March 27: Opening Day
Baseball’s conventional Opening Day will function 5 interleague sequence and 4 division sequence. One of the best guess for a World Collection rematch would most likely be the Brewers on the Yankees (the opposite interleague sequence are Rockies at Rays, Mets at Astros, Twins at Cardinals and Tigers at Dodgers). Paul Skenes is more likely to make his first profession Opening Day begin, though it will likely be on the highway for the reason that Pirates will open in Miami. The A’s will start their Sacramento journey on the highway in Seattle, taking part in their first dwelling recreation on March 31 in opposition to the Cubs.
Could 16-18: Rivalry weekend
That is sort of a enjoyable concept to line up all these sequence on the similar time — even when a few the rivalries are a bit of little bit of a stretch. The matchups: Guardians at Reds, Nationals at Orioles, Tigers at Blue Jays, Pirates at Phillies, Braves at Crimson Sox, Rays at Marlins, Mets at Yankees, Cardinals at Royals, Astros at Rangers, White Sox at Cubs, Twins at Brewers, Rockies at Diamondbacks, Angels at Dodgers, Mariners at Padres, A’s at Giants.
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You may word that not all of the sequence are interleague video games with some region-based matchups included. It makes you marvel, nevertheless, since MLB is acknowledging that it is higher to have, say, the Yankees and Mets or Cubs and White Sox play one another six instances somewhat than 4, if we’re ultimately realignment and retinkering of the divisions altogether. Is it higher to maintain the Yankees and Mets of their conventional leagues or having them as division rivals and taking part in 13 instances a season? (Then once more, I am unable to see the Yankees shifting to the Nationwide League or the Mets shifting to the American League, even when extra video games in opposition to one another can be extra thrilling for the baseball followers of New York.)
July 31: Commerce deadline day
The commerce deadline falls on a Thursday with solely two video games scheduled that day: Rays at Yankees and Rangers at Mariners. Which groups can be trying to make large additions? Which groups can be out of it? I am positive that my fellow Mariners followers will nonetheless be celebrating that Seattle has ended its World Collection drought by then due to a dramatic seven-game win over the Phillies within the 2024 World Collection and the M’s can be trying so as to add extra firepower to an offense that features offseason free brokers Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman and Tyler O’Neill.
Sept. 26-28: Remaining weekend
It is all the time enjoyable to verify who’s taking part in the ultimate weekend to see essentially the most fascinating sequence which are more likely to have playoff implications. Main the best way can be the Orioles on the Yankees. Will Juan Soto be in pinstripes subsequent 12 months or will he have signed with … umm, let’s throw out the Dodgers and Mets as potentialities. Cardinals at Cubs is a good old-school rivalry (how can they not be taking part in on rivalry weekend?). Rays at Blue Jays may very well be fascinating: Will these be the ultimate video games for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette in Toronto uniforms … or will these two be lengthy gone (say someday quickly)?
