When Is MLB Regular Season Over in 2025?

By Sarah Miller · December 4, 2049

The MLB regular season typically ends in late September or early October. For the 2025 season, the final games are scheduled for Sunday, September 28, 2025, marking the conclusion of a 162-game schedule for each team.

Understanding the MLB Regular Season Schedule

The Major League Baseball (MLB) regular season is an intense six-month competition that determines which teams qualify for the postseason. Each of the 30 MLB teams plays 162 games from early April through the end of September. The exact end date varies slightly each year based on scheduling decisions by MLB, including special event games like the Little League Classic or international series.

Key Factors That Influence the End Date

Interleague Play: Games between American League and National League teams are scheduled throughout the season and can affect the calendar layout.
Postseason Planning: The regular season must conclude before the Division Series begins, usually on the first Friday after the last game day.
Weather Rescheduling: Rainouts or other delays may require doubleheaders late in the season, potentially pushing final games into early October.
Special Events: Games such as the MLB London Series or Field of Dreams game can shift the overall schedule.

2025 MLB Regular Season Key Dates

The following table outlines the major milestones in the 2025 MLB season, including the official end of the regular season and the start of playoff rounds.

Event	Date(s)	Notes
Opening Day	March 27, 2025	Start of regular season; includes games in U.S. and Korea
All-Star Break	July 14–16, 2025	Midseason classic in Atlanta, GA
Trade Deadline	July 30, 2025 (4:00 PM ET)	Teams finalize rosters for playoff push
Last Regular Season Game	Sunday, September 28, 2025	Final day of 162-game schedule
Wild Card Series	October 1–5, 2025	Best-of-three opening round
World Series	October 21–29, 2025 (projected)	Final championship games

Table data source:MLB Official Announcement, ESPN MLB Schedule

The data shows that the 2025 MLB regular season concludes on September 28, aligning with recent trends of ending play just before October. This timing allows a clean transition into the expanded postseason format, which now includes 12 teams (6 per league). The gap between the final regular-season games and the Wild Card Series provides rest days and travel time, improving player recovery and broadcast logistics.

How Postseason Qualification Works After the Regular Season

After the regular season ends, the top six teams in each league advance to the playoffs. These include the three division winners and three wild card teams with the best records. The top two division winners in each league receive a bye to the Division Series, while the remaining four teams compete in the best-of-three Wild Card Series.

Standings Deciders and Tiebreaker Scenarios

If two or more teams finish with identical records and are competing for a playoff spot or division title, MLB uses a set of tiebreaking procedures:

Head-to-head record during the regular season
Division record (if within the same division)
Record in the final 81 games (ignoring interleague play)
Coin flip (rarely used, but still official)

Tiebreaker games are no longer played due to the expanded postseason format, making statistical tiebreakers more critical than ever.

Frequently Asked Questions About When the MLB Regular Season Ends

When does the 2025 MLB regular season end?

The 2025 MLB regular season ends on Sunday, September 28, 2025. All 30 teams will complete their 162-game schedules by this date unless weather-related postponements require adjustments.

Does the MLB regular season ever go into October?

Typically, the regular season ends in late September. However, rescheduled games due to weather or other disruptions can extend play into early October. Officially, the last scheduled games are set for September 28, 2025.

How many games do MLB teams play in the regular season?

Each MLB team plays 162 games during the regular season, a tradition since the 1960s (except in shortened seasons like 2020). This includes home and away matchups against divisional, league, and interleague opponents.

What happens immediately after the MLB regular season ends?

Within days of the final game, the MLB postseason begins. The Wild Card Series starts on October 1, 2025, featuring the six non-bye teams in a best-of-three format to determine who advances to the League Division Series.

Why does the MLB regular season end in September?

The MLB season ends in September to allow time for the multi-round postseason, culminating in the World Series, which traditionally concludes in late October or early November. Ending in September also avoids conflict with the NFL season and maintains historical scheduling consistency.