If you’re anything like me, you probably spent the better part of the winter checking the calendar and wondering exactly when that first crack of the bat was going to happen. Honestly, the 2025 schedule is a bit of a weird one. We’ve got games in Tokyo, a temporary home for the Rays because of a hurricane, and the earliest "traditional" Opening Day we’ve ever seen. It’s a lot to keep track of if you just want to know when to buy hot dogs and settle into your sofa.
Basically, the 2025 season isn't just one big kickoff. It’s more like a series of soft launches before the real madness begins.
The MLB Season Dates 2025 You Actually Need
The whole thing officially kicked off way earlier than usual. On March 18 and 19, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs headed over to the Tokyo Dome. Seeing Shohei Ohtani play in Japan as a Dodger? That's the kind of stuff scriptwriters dream up. They played two games there before everyone else even finished Spring Training.
Then we hit the "real" Opening Day on March 27, 2025.
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This was a massive day. Twenty-eight out of the thirty teams were scheduled to play. It was the earliest traditional start date in the history of the league. Why so early? MLB is trying to bake in more off-days and ensure the World Series doesn't end in a snowstorm in November.
One thing that caught people off guard was the Tampa Bay Rays. Because Hurricane Milton did a number on the roof of Tropicana Field, they had to move their home opener to March 28 at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. It’s actually the Yankees' spring training home, so things are gonna feel a bit cozy for them this year.
The Summer Stretch and All-Star Week
Once the initial excitement of April dies down, we usually look toward July. The Midsummer Classic is the next big pillar on the calendar. This year, the All-Star Game is on July 15, 2025.
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The Atlanta Braves are hosting at Truist Park. It’s the first time they’ve had the honors since 2000, and they’re going all out. You’ve got the HBCU Swingman Classic on July 11, the Future’s Game and the celebrity softball game on July 12, and the MLB Draft starting on July 13. Of course, most people just care about the Home Run Derby, which is set for Monday, July 14.
After that, the second half of the season starts back up on Friday, July 18.
Some Random Dates That Are Kinda Cool
- April 15: Jackie Robinson Day. Every single player wears 42. It never gets old.
- May 16-18: Rivalry Weekend. MLB leaned hard into interleague play here. You get Mets vs. Yankees, Cubs vs. White Sox, and Dodgers vs. Angels all in one go.
- August 2: The MLB Speedway Classic. This is wild. The Braves and the Reds are playing at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee. It’s the first time MLB has ever played in that state.
- August 17: The Little League Classic. The Mets and the Mariners are heading to Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
When Does the 2025 Regular Season End?
The grind finally lets up on September 28, 2025.
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That’s the final day of the regular season. MLB does this thing now where almost all the games start at the same time—right around 3:00 PM ET. It’s chaotic. You’ve got scoreboard watching happening in every stadium, and by 7:00 PM, the playoff bracket is usually set in stone.
The postseason is scheduled to start almost immediately after. Wild Card games are penciled in for September 30, and if the World Series goes the distance, we’re looking at a champion being crowned in the first couple days of November.
Honestly, the biggest takeaway for 2025 is the sheer amount of travel and "special" events. Between Tokyo, Bristol, and Williamsport, the league is really trying to move the game around.
If you're planning a trip or just trying to manage your fantasy roster, keep an eye on those Monday and Thursday travel days. With the season starting so early, the schedule is surprisingly dense in the middle months. Make sure your tickets are for the right stadium—especially if you're a Rays fan, because "home" means something different for them this year.
Check your local listings for the exact times, but for the most part, the rhythm of the season is back to its classic daily heartbeat.