MLB Opening Day 2025: Viewing Guide, Schedule, and More

While March Madness may be stealing most of the sports headlines, there’s another marquee date that has arrived: MLB Opening Day.

Baseball might not be everyone’s cup of tea—despite recent efforts, some can still find it to be a slog—but there is something special about America’s Pastime coming back around for another season. Similar to the start of spring, there’s untapped potential; for that one day, (almost) everyone has the same record and chance at lifting the big trophy.

But when we get past that philosophizing, there are games to be played or, for the fans, watched. So, let’s break down what you need to know about MLB Opening Day 2025.

When Is MLB Opening Day?

If we’re going by the official branding, 2025 Opening Day is on Thursday. Fourteen games will take place throughout the afternoon and evening, with 26 teams launching the season.

But wait, you might be saying, those numbers don’t add up. There are 30 teams in Major League Baseball, and 14 games would mean 28 teams are taking the field. How are only 26 starting the campaign?

The Cubs and Dodgers Already Started Their Seasons in Tokyo

If you think back to earlier in March, you may remember that the MLB season technically began. On March 18 and 19, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs opened their campaign in Japan’s Tokyo Dome.

Los Angeles won both of those games, meaning they’ll enter Thursday’s action at 2-0, despite it being Opening Day.

Why Don’t the Rays Play on Opening Day?

While the Dodgers and Cubs help explain why only 26 teams are playing their first game on MLB Opening Day, that doesn’t explain why the two other teams are out of action. To connect those dots, we need to turn back a bit further.

After Hurricane Milton swept through Tampa, Tropicana Field was left in ruins, requiring the Rays to look for a new home. They landed at Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees’ spring training base, as the immediate solution.

The Bronx Bombers still used the facility for spring training though, so MLB provided the Rays with a little extra time to get their new home ready for prime time. Tampa Bay will open the regular season on Friday, hosting the Colorado Rockies.

MLB Opening Day Schedule

With all of that being said, it’s time to get down to the games themselves. If you want to catch any of the action, here’s the full slate for Thursday:

• Milwaukee Brewers at New York Yankees, 3:05 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays, 3:05 p.m. ET
• Boston Red Sox at Texas Rangers, 4:05 p.m. ET
• Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals, 4:05 p.m. ET
• Cleveland Guardians at Kansas City Royals, 4:10 p.m. ET
• New York Mets at Houston Astros, 4:10 p.m. ET
• San Francisco Giants at Cincinnati Reds, 4:10 p.m. ET
• Atlanta Braves at San Diego Padres, 4:10 p.m. ET
• Los Angeles Angels at Chicago White Sox, 4:10 p.m. ET
• Pittsburgh Pirates at Miami Marlins, 4:10 p.m. ET
• Minnesota Twins at St. Louis Cardinals, 4:15 p.m. ET
• Detroit Tigers at Los Angeles Dodgers, 7:10 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks, 10:10 p.m. ET (MLB Network)
• Athletics at Seattle Mariners, 10:10 p.m. ET (MLB Network)

And then, as mentioned above, the Rockies and Rays will take the field on Friday.

• Colorado Rockies at Tampa Bay Rays, 4:10 p.m. ET

2025 MLB Predictions

While it’s tough to know how things will look in the fall before the first pitch is thrown, it’s natural for fans to want to know what to expect. And, with that in mind, Newsweek Sports’ Noah Camras has you covered, with everything from divisional standings to the year-end awards.

As things stand, his American League playoff teams are the Rangers, Red Sox, Royals, Orioles, Guardians and Astros. On the National League side of things, he predicts that the Dodgers, Braves, Cubs, Diamondbacks, Phillies and Mets will survive the regular season gauntlet.

But who will take home the title when all is said and done? Read more of his picks here.