MLB

MLB Opening Day: Schedules, Starting Pitchers, & Everything You Need to Know For Opening Day 2025

Author photo
By
Colin Lynch
Author photo
Colin Lynch Sports Editor

Colin Lynch covers the NFL, MLB and WNBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the New England Patriots. His sports coverage has been featured on The Sports Daily and Basketball Insiders, as well as FanSided's Chowder & Champions. A New Hampshire native and former D1 baseball player at St. John's University, Colin was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2008 and enjoyed a four-year professional baseball career.

Get to know Colin Lynch better
Sports Editor

Published25 Mar 2025

Disclosure
We publish independently audited content meeting strict editorial standards. While our content features sponsored links, from which we may earn a commission, this does not influence our recommendations.
MLB Opening Day: Schedules, Starting Pitchers, & Everything You Need to Know For Opening Day 2025

 

The 2025 Major League Baseball season commenced with a groundbreaking start, as the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers faced off in the Tokyo Series on March 18 and 19. This marked the earliest Opening Day in MLB history and underscored the league’s commitment to expanding its global footprint.

But when does the MLB season officially kick off in the states? We have everything you need to know.

Tokyo Series Highlights

In the opener at the iconic Tokyo Dome, the Dodgers secured a 4-1 victory over the Cubs. Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered an impressive performance for Los Angeles, earning the win after five strong innings. His counterpart, Shota Imanaga of the Cubs, showcased resilience, pitching four scoreless innings despite issuing four walks. The Dodgers capitalized in the fifth inning, rallying to take the lead and ultimately the game.

The following day, the Dodgers completed the sweep with another win, highlighted by a home run from Shohei Ohtani. The series was particularly memorable for Japanese fans, witnessing their homegrown talents excel on the international stage.

Domestic Opening Day Schedule : March 27 (All Times EST) 

While the Cubs and Dodgers initiated the season overseas, the remainder of MLB teams are set to begin their campaigns on March 27. The Milwaukee Brewers and New York Yankees will kick off the domestic Opening Day at 3:05 p.m. ET. The Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays follow closely, starting at 3:07 p.m. ET. The day will feature a full slate of games, culminating with matchups like the Chicago Cubs versus the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Oakland Athletics against the Seattle Mariners, both commencing at 10:10 p.m. ET.

  • 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

Notable Schedule Adjustments

The Tampa Bay Rays and Colorado Rockies will delay their season debuts to March 28. This adjustment accommodates ongoing repairs at Tropicana Field, necessitated by damage from Hurricane Milton. Consequently, the Rays will temporarily host their home games at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the Yankees’ spring training facility.

Anticipated Opening Day Pitching Matchups

Several teams have announced their starting pitchers for Opening Day:

  • Milwaukee Brewers at New York Yankees: Freddy Peralta (MIL) vs. Carlos Rodón (NYY)
  • Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays: Zach Eflin (BAL) vs. José Berríos (TOR)
  • Boston Red Sox at Texas Rangers: Garrett Crochet (BOS) vs. Nathan Eovaldi (TEX)
  • Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals: Zack Wheeler (PHI) vs. MacKenzie Gore (WSH)
  • Cleveland Guardians at Kansas City Royals: Tanner Bibee (CLE) vs. Cole Ragans (KCR)
  • New York Mets at Houston Astros: Ryne Stanek (NYM) vs. Framber Valdez (HOU)
  • San Francisco Giants at Cincinnati Reds: Logan Webb (SFG) vs. Hunter Greene (CIN)
  • Atlanta Braves at San Diego Padres: Chris Sale (ATL) vs. Michael King (SDP)
  • Los Angeles Angels at Chicago White Sox: Yusei Kikuchi (LAA) vs. Sean Burke (CWS)
  • Pittsburgh Pirates at Miami Marlins: Paul Skenes (PIT) vs. Sandy Alcantara (MIA)
  • Minnesota Twins at St. Louis Cardinals: Pablo López (MIN) vs. Sonny Gray (STL)
  • Detroit Tigers at Los Angeles Dodgers: Tarik Skubal (DET) vs. Blake Snell (LAD)
  • Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks: Justin Steele (CHC) vs. Zac Gallen (ARI)
  • Oakland Athletics at Seattle Mariners: Luis Severino (ATH) vs. Logan Gilbert (SEA)
  • Colorado Rockies at Tampa Bay Rays (March 28): Kyle Freeland (COL) vs. Ryan Pepiot (TBR)

Looking Ahead

The 2025 season promises a blend of tradition and innovation. The All-Star Game is slated for July 15 at Truist Park in Atlanta, celebrating the sport’s premier talents. Additionally, unique events like the game between the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 2, and the MLB Little League Classic featuring the Seattle Mariners and New York Mets on August 17, aim to captivate fans nationwide. citeturn0search26

As teams finalize their rosters and strategies, fans eagerly anticipate the unfolding narratives, rivalries, and unforgettable moments that define America’s pastime.