The 2025 Major League Baseball season will kick off in Tokyo on March 18, with the Los Angeles Dodgers taking on the Chicago Cubs. This marks a return to international games for the league, with all 30 teams scheduled to play by March 27 – the earliest Opening Day in recent years. The Athletics will also be making a significant move, starting their first season in Sacramento against the Cubs on March 31.
One of the highlights of the 2025 season will be the Rivalry Weekend scheduled for May 16-18. This weekend will feature prime interleague rivalries, including matchups between the New York Yankees and Mets, Dodgers and Angels, Cubs and White Sox, and Athletics and Giants. Additionally, other rivalries such as Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia, Colorado vs. Arizona, Detroit vs. Toronto, and Houston vs. Texas will also take center stage.
In a departure from previous seasons, each team will play six games against its prime interleague rival instead of four. This change aims to increase the intensity of matchups between historically strong rival teams. The league will continue with a balanced schedule approach, with teams set to play 13 games against each division rival, 52 games in total. The remainder of the games will be against interleague opponents, with a single three-game series against each of the 14 other clubs in the opposite league.
MLB has been exploring international games in recent years, with the upcoming 2025 season featuring games in Tokyo. The Dodgers and Cubs will face off at the Tokyo Dome on March 18-19, commemorating the 25th anniversary of MLB’s first regular-season games in Japan. The league had plans to play regular-season games in Paris in June, but those were abandoned due to sponsorship issues. Additionally, games in San Juan, Puerto Rico, were considered but ultimately not included in the schedule.
After playing in Oakland for over five decades, the Athletics are planning to move to Sacramento for the 2025 to 2027 seasons. They will be playing at Sutter Health Park, a stadium with a capacity of about 10,500 fixed seats. The decision to move comes as the Athletics look to find a new permanent home, with plans to relocate to Las Vegas starting in 2028.
As the 2025 MLB season approaches, fans can look forward to an exciting schedule with a mix of international games, revamped rivalries, and teams making significant moves. The league’s focus on expanding its reach and providing unique fan experiences continues to be a driving force behind its decision-making. As Opening Day approaches, baseball enthusiasts around the world are gearing up for what promises to be a memorable season.
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