Opening Day in Major League Baseball is like waking up on the first day of summer vacation as a kid — nothing’s happened yet, everything’s possible, and every fan gets to believe that this just might be their team's unforgettable season. 

Sure, the Dodgers and Cubs kicked things off early in Tokyo on March 18-19, but for most of the league (and fans glued to their couches), March 27th is the true starting bell. Twenty-eight clubs will take the field across 14 games, each team chasing after the same end goal. 

American League Matchups

Brewers at Yankees (3:05 p.m. ET)

This was supposed to be Gerrit Cole’s moment, throwing the first pitch of the MLB season on U.S. soil. Instead, the Yankees find themselves without their ace — sidelined for the entire year after Tommy John surgery. 

Instead, Carlos Rodón makes his first Opening Day start in pinstripes, while Freddy Peralta toes the rubber for his second straight opener. Betting lines favor New York (-170), and it’s easy to see why: the Bombers added firepower in free agency and snagged former Brewer Devin Williams. 

But don’t sleep on Christian Yelich’s comeback story in Milwaukee; if he looks even half as good post-back surgery, this one could stay tight.

Blue Jays at Orioles (3:07 p.m. ET)

The AL East already feels like a cage match. José Berríos returns for his fourth Opening Day start, opposing Zach Eflin — who bizarrely faces Toronto two years running for different clubs. 

Anthony Santander is squaring off against his old team for the first time, and Tyler O’Neill is hunting a sixth straight Opening Day homer. Odds tip toward Baltimore (-120), but Blue Jays fans will be watching to see if Toronto’s offseason upgrades pay immediate dividends.

Red Sox at Rangers (4:05 p.m. ET)

Boston’s new-look lineup meets Texas’ defending AL West champs in what feels like an early playoff preview. Garrett Crochet debuts in Sox red after last year’s Opening Day cameo for Chicago, while Nathan Eovaldi aims to keep his own consecutive-opener streak alive. 

The Rangers boast a perfect 3-0 record at Globe Life Field on Opening Day, but Boston’s free-agent splash with Alex Bregman — a thorn for Texas throughout his Astros tenure — should bring fireworks.

Guardians at Royals (4:10 p.m. ET)

Think AL Central, think parity — and this opener encapsulates it. Tanner Bibee steps in for injured Shane Bieber, while Cole Ragans becomes one of the rare lefties to snag back-to-back Opening Day nods for Kansas City. 

The Royals enter as early division favorites, backed by a revamped bullpen. Meanwhile, Cleveland’s road-opening tradition continues, testing the Guardians’ resolve away from Progressive Field.

Angels at White Sox (4:10 p.m. ET)

Both clubs need health above all else. Yusei Kikuchi finally gets his first Opening Day start for the Halos, and Sean Burke — a virtual rookie — makes a shocker start for Chicago with fewer than 20 career innings. 

LA’s Jorge Soler looks to inject power into a lineup starved for it, while the White Sox, under new skipper Will Venable, try to defy historically low win projections.

Athletics at Mariners (10:10 p.m. ET)

Late-night West Coast drama pits Luis Severino — back on Opening Day duties for the first time since 2018 — against Logan Gilbert, who led the AL in innings pitched and WHIP in 2024. 

Oakland’s youth movement is set to clash with Seattle’s stellar Opening Day legacy (second-best record in MLB). 

National League Matchups

Astros at Mets (4:10 p.m. ET)

The spotlight turns to Queens as Framber Valdez toes the rubber for his fourth straight Opening Day start in Houston, facing Clay Holmes in his first Mets outing as a starter. 

Betting lines give Houston a slight edge (-125), but all eyes belong to Juan Soto — making his New York Mets debut against a true ace. This isn’t just a pitcher’s duel; it’s Soto’s baptism by fire against Valdez’s steady hand. Expect sparks when the new Mets era meets Astros continuity.

Phillies at Nationals (4:05 p.m. ET)

Zack Wheeler returns to the mound for Philly, fresh off a runner-up finish in NL Cy Young voting, squaring off against MacKenzie Gore, who’s hungry for a breakout campaign in D.C. 

The Phillies open as heavy favorites (-170), but Washington isn’t a pushover — especially with Nathaniel Lowe debuting. Keep an eye on Jesús Luzardo’s transition into Philly’s rotation; he could become a key piece in a postseason run.

Giants at Reds (4:10 p.m. ET)

Logan Webb makes his fourth straight Opening Day start for the Giants against Hunter Greene, Cincinnati’s young flamethrower. Oddsmakers peg the Reds (-125) as slight favorites, but San Francisco’s biggest storyline is Willy Adames debuting as the highest-paid position player in franchise history. 

The Giants have started a different left fielder in 18 consecutive seasons — dating all the way back to Barry Bonds in 2007 — and the streak will stretch to 19 in this game, tying an MLB record.

Braves at Padres (4:10 p.m. ET)

A rematch of last fall’s Wild Card sweep finds Chris Sale on the bump for Atlanta versus Michael King’s first Opening Day start. 

Atlanta (-120) enters with championship aspirations and a new face in Jurickson Profar — a former Padre who thrived in San Diego last season. This feels like early October intensity packaged into April.

Pirates at Marlins (4:10 p.m. ET)

Paul Skenes makes his Opening Day debut after an NL Rookie of the Year campaign, facing Sandy Alcantara, who’s back from Tommy John surgery for Miami’s fifth Opening Day start. 

Pittsburgh (-162) may be slight favorites, but the Marlins’ new manager Clayton McCullough and Alcantara bring a sense of veteran leadership that can make all the difference on opening day.

Twins at Cardinals (4:15 p.m. ET)

It’s a fun reunion for Pablo López and Sonny Gray, two former teammates facing off in a battle between reliable arms who once shared a clubhouse in Minnesota. 

St. Louis (-105) has the edge at home, but the Twins are no strangers to starting their season on the road. And speaking of interesting storylines, Willson Contreras is now playing first base — a subtle shift that might end up having a big impact on the Cardinals' season.

Tigers at Dodgers (7:10 p.m. ET)

Blake Snell makes his Dodgers debut in primetime against Tarik Skubal, and let’s be honest — Los Angeles is going to be the favorite in just about every game they play this year. 

They’ve already handled business overseas in Tokyo and added a ridiculous amount of talent in the offseason. The Tigers come in as big underdogs, but there’s still some intrigue here — Gleyber Torres will be looking to make a strong first impression in his Tigers debut on one of baseball’s biggest stages.

Cubs at Diamondbacks (10:10 p.m. ET)

Justin Steele starts for Chicago after pitching in Tokyo, opposite Zac Gallen’s third straight opener for Arizona. The D-backs (-170) are favored, and Ketel Marte’s eighth Opening Day start ties Luis Gonzalez's franchise record. 

Both of these teams feel like they could make some real noise this year — Arizona’s got a little more buzz around them, but don’t sleep on the Cubs. Either way, it’s a solid matchup to close out Opening Day.

A Night of New Beginnings

Opening Day is finally here, and for us baseball fans, there’s nothing quite like it. The standings are clean, hope is everywhere, and every team — from the loaded Dodgers to the rebuilding White Sox — gets their moment under the lights. 

We’ve got stars in new uniforms, rookies getting their first taste of the big stage, and fresh matchups that could set the tone for months to come. No matter where your fandom lies, the 2025 season starts the same way for all of us: with curiosity, excitement, and the chance to believe this could be the year.