The 2025 MLB season has arrived.
Starting with a 14-game slate on Opening Day this Thursday, there will be about 50 games to watch (and bet on) this weekend.
Here are the five best games for this week’s action:
5 Best MLB Games of the Week: March 27-30
| Game | Location | Date | First pitch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Sox vs. Rangers | Globe Life Field | March 27 | 4:05 p.m. ET |
| Mets vs. Astros | Daikin Park | March 27 | 4:10 p.m. ET |
| Tigers vs. Dodgers | Dodger Stadium | March 27 | 7:10 p.m. ET |
| Rockies vs. Rays | George M. Steinbrenner Field | March 28 | 4:10 p.m. ET |
| Orioles vs. Blue Jays | Rogers Centre | March 28 | 7:07 p.m. ET |
Red Sox vs. Rangers
Although MLB’s Opening Day will begin with a matchup between the Milwaukee Brewers and the New York Yankees at 3:05 p.m. ET, I’m more interested in the matchup between the Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers one hour later.
I’m incredibly high on Boston and Texas this year. After missing the playoffs last year, both teams can win the division (and clinch a bye).
The Red Sox plan to start left-hander Garrett Crochet in the opener after trading for him in the offseason. Crochet had a breakout season last year, spinning a 3.58 ERA and 209 strikeouts in 146 innings. Boston’s pitching staff could get a Cy Young campaign out of him.
Jacob deGrom might not pitch in this opening series, but Texas has enough talented hurlers and hitters to make for a compelling weekend set.
Mets vs. Astros
Juan Soto will debut for the New York Mets on Thursday after signing a 15-year, $765 million deal this offseason. I’ll be locked in on his first plate appearance against the Houston Astros at 4:10 p.m. ET.
Soto, 26, has played for four different teams in as many years. He’s produced back-to-back All-Star campaigns, including a 7.9 WAR for the Yankees last year.
Soto will be the face of the Mets’ franchise for the next decade, and he’s just entering his prime. I like him as a long shot in the latest MLB home run leader odds, something he could get started in Houston.
The Astros traded away Kyle Tucker and let Alex Bregman walk in free agency this offseason. Is that a sign that their reign in the AL West is over? This weekend could help answer that question.
Tigers vs. Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers began their season with a two-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs in the Tokyo Series. The defending champions accomplished that feat without Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, while their best pitcher (Blake Snell) didn’t start a game.
Snell will get the nod in Thursday’s home opener after inking a five-year, $182 million deal in the winter. The two-time Cy Young winner is counting on a bounce-back season after posting a 3.12 ERA in 104 innings for the San Francisco Giants last year.
Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal, last year’s Cy Young winner, will face off against Snell. He recorded a 2.39 ERA and 228 strikeouts in 192 innings last year, leading the Tigers to the ALDS.
This game will be worth watching at 7:10 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Rockies vs. Rays
It might seem ridiculous to highlight the Colorado Rockies’ and Tampa Bay Rays’ game as one of the best of the week, but I’m fascinated to see how the ballpark (George M. Steinbrenner Field) plays when these two teams meet at 4:10 p.m. ET on Friday.
After a hurricane destroyed the roof of Tropicana Field, the Rays will play all their home games in the Yankees’ spring training complex this year. George M. Steinbrenner Field has the exact dimensions as Yankee Stadium, so expect left-handed hitters to take advantage of a potential power increase this year.
The capacity for this venue is 11,026, so Tampa Bay’s home games could be incredibly intimate in 2025.
Orioles vs. Blue Jays
I’m a fan of the Apple TV broadcast, so it’s worth highlighting the first one of the 2025 season. The Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays will square off at 7.07 p.m. ET on Friday in Rogers Centre.
The pitching matchup isn’t particularly notable, with Charlie Morton set to start for Baltimore and Kevin Gausman getting the ball for Toronto. As a result, I could see this game featuring more offense.
Baltimore’s lineup ranked third in all of baseball last year with a wRC+ of 115, trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees. However, leadoff shortstop Gunnar Henderson will start the season on the IL.
The Blue Jays scored 671 runs last year after averaging 789 in the three previous campaigns. They will get some positive regression on offense this season, which could start as early as this weekend.
MLB Opening Day Previews 2025
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