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When is Opening Day for MLB? Dates to know for start of 2025 season

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Published  March 18, 2025 1:31pm CDT
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Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers strikes out in the top of the sixth inning during the MLB Tokyo Series game against Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome on March 18, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kenta Harada/Getty Images)

The Brief

    • Major League Baseball’s Opening Day begins on March 27.
    • The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs kicked off their regular season Tuesday in Japan.
    • Two teams will play their first game of the season on March 28.

Fans eager for baseball to start no longer have to wait because the 2025 Major League Baseball season is back. 

After an eventful offseason that saw some of the sport’s biggest stars sign with new teams, this season could shape up to be another great one. 

Here’s what you need to know about the new baseball season.

Dodgers and Cubs start regular season in Japan

The Major League Baseball regular season kicked off with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs playing a two-game series in Japan on Tuesday, March 18, while the other MLB teams won’t play their first game until late March. 

When is Opening Day for Major League Baseball?

Opening Day begins on Thursday, March 27. Twenty-eight teams will have games, including the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs, even after they complete their two-game series in Japan. 

However, teams not playing on Opening Day are the Tampa Bay Rays and Colorado Rockies. USA Today noted that the Rays were provided an extra day to prepare for the season following the devastation to the Tampa area in the offseason. 

The Rays established a temporary home at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the New York Yankees spring training home. 

When is my MLB team’s matchup on Opening Day? 

Local perspective:

Here's the full Opening Day schedule, per MLB.com.

  • Los Angeles Angels: March 27 at White Sox (Time TBD)
  • Houston Astros: March 27 vs. Mets (Time TBD)
  • Oakland Athletics: March 27 at Mariners (10:10 p.m. ET)
  • Toronto Blue Jays: March 27 vs. Orioles (3:07 p.m. ET)
  • Atlanta Braves: March 27 at Padres (4:10 p.m. ET)
  • Milwaukee Brewers: March 27 at Yankees (3:05 p.m. ET)
  • St. Louis Cardinals: March 27 vs. Twins (4:15 p.m. ET)
  • Chicago Cubs: March 18 vs. Dodgers (6:00 a.m. ET in Tokyo)
  • Arizona Diamondbacks: March 27 vs. Cubs (10:10 p.m. ET)
  • Los Angeles Dodgers: March 18 at Cubs (6:00 a.m. ET in Tokyo)
  • San Francisco Giants: March 27 at Reds (4:10 p.m. ET)
  • Cleveland Guardians: March 27 at Royals (4:10 p.m. ET)
  • Seattle Mariners: March 27 vs. Athletics (10:10 p.m. ET)
  • Miami Marlins: March 27 vs. Pirates (4:10 p.m. ET)
  • New York Mets: March 27 at Astros (Time TBD)
  • Washington Nationals: March 27 vs. Phillies (4:05 p.m. ET)
  • Baltimore Orioles: March 27 at Blue Jays (3:07 p.m. ET)
  • San Diego Padres: March 27 vs. Braves (4:10 p.m. ET)
  • Philadelphia Phillies: March 27 at Nationals (4:05 p.m. ET)
  • Pittsburgh Pirates: March 27 at Marlins (4:10 p.m. ET)
  • Texas Rangers: March 27 vs. Red Sox (4:05 p.m. ET)
  • Tampa Bay Rays: March 28 vs. Rockies (4:10 p.m. ET)
  • Cincinnati Reds: March 27 vs. Giants (4:10 p.m. ET)
  • Boston Red Sox: March 27 at Rangers (4:05 p.m. ET)
  • Colorado Rockies: March 28 at Rays (4:10 p.m. ET)
  • Kansas City Royals: March 27 vs. Guardians (4:10 p.m. ET)
  • Detroit Tigers: March 27 at Dodgers (7:10 p.m. ET)
  • Minnesota Twins: March 27 at Cardinals (4:15 p.m. ET)
  • Chicago White Sox: March 27 vs. Angels (Time TBD)
  • New York Yankees: March 27 vs. Brewers (3:05 p.m. ET)
  • Los Angeles Angels: March 27 at White Sox (Time TBD)

The Source: Information for this story was provided by MLB.com and USA Today.  This story was reported from Washington, D.C.

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