Welcome to Rivalry Weekend.
For the very first time, MLB is highlighting some top geographical rivalries with "Rivalry Weekend," slated for the weekend of May 16-18. Every team will play its designated rival, with 11 Interleague series and four non-Interleague matchups.
The slate brings plenty of intrigue, keyed by Juan Soto's return to the Bronx, as the Mets slugger takes on the Yankees following his stunning offseason departure. Shohei Ohtani will also get his second crack at the Angels -- his former team -- in the Freeway Series. Other prime rivalries include White Sox-Cubs, Astros-Rangers, and the first official "Eddie Vedder Cup" between the Mariners and the Padres.
Here's a look at all 15 matchups on the docket for the inaugural Rivalry Weekend.
Astros at Rangers - Globe Life Field (Tickets)
Series opener: Thursday at 8:05 p.m. ET
The Silver Boot Series reached its apex in the 2023 postseason, when the Rangers vanquished the Astros in the ALCS on the way to the franchise’s first World Series title. That contentious seven-game series is largely emblematic of the rivalry as a whole: Texas holds a slim head-to-head advantage with Houston, with a 144-142 record. However, the Astros haven’t lost the season series since 2016, which was the rivals' fourth season as AL West foes.
White Sox at Cubs - Wrigley Field (Tickets)
Series opener: Friday at 2:20 p.m. ET
The Cubs have seized control of the Crosstown Classic, winning six of their last seven games against the White Sox following a sweep of last year’s season series. Historically, the South Siders have the edge, with a 78-74 all-time record against their North Side foes. The rivalry dates back to the 1906 World Series, which the White Sox won in six games.
Guardians at Reds - Great American Ball Park (Tickets)
Series opener: Friday at 6:40 p.m. ET
Terry Francona knows a thing or two about winning the Ohio Cup. Francona is in his first year managing the Reds after leading the Guardians for 11 seasons -- a vastly successful tenure that included six postseason berths and four AL Central titles. Cincinnati last won the head-to-head series in 2014, Francona’s second year with Cleveland.
Pirates at Phillies - Citizens Bank Park (Tickets)
Series opener: Friday at 6:45 p.m. ET
One of baseball’s oldest rivalries resides in Pennsylvania. The two franchises first met in 1887, with the Philadelphia Quakers defeating the Pittsburgh Alleghenys. Last year, the Pirates won the season series for the first time since 2017.
Nationals at Orioles - Oriole Park at Camden Yards (Tickets)
Series opener: Friday at 7:05 p.m. ET
Historically, the Orioles have controlled the Beltway Series, with a 58-43 head-to-head record against the Nationals since the franchise relocated to Washington. But the Nationals took the three-game set when the two teams met in April, notching their first series win against Baltimore in the last seven tries, dating back to May 2021.
Mets at Yankees - Yankee Stadium (Tickets)
Series opener: Friday at 7:05 p.m. ET
This year’s Subway Series has even more hype than usual, as Soto returns to the Bronx for the first time since signing a historic 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets in December. Sure enough, Soto is still eyeing his first win in the crosstown rivalry, after the Mets won all four games against the Yankees last season. This weekend, fans can attend a trio of free Subway Series viewing parties at the World Trade Center, in partnership with MLB.
Tigers at Blue Jays - Rogers Centre (Tickets)
Series opener: Friday at 7:07 p.m. ET
A pair of playoff hopefuls meet in this untraditional rivalry clash, which began in 1977. Geographically, the pairing makes sense: The two cities are separated by just 231 miles. The Blue Jays are 247-212 all-time against the Tigers, though Detroit went 5-2 last year to win the season series for the first time since 2018. Unfortunately, injured righty Max Scherzer -- in his first year with the Blue Jays -- will not be able to make just his fourth start against his former team since leaving the Tigers after the 2014 season.
Braves at Red Sox - Fenway Park (Tickets)
Series opener: Friday at 7:10 p.m. ET
Two teams that once shared a city first met in 1997, the inaugural year of Interleague play. Boston holds the slight upper-hand, with a 50-44 all-time mark against Atlanta. Chris Sale punctuated last year’s series when he tossed six shutout innings -- with 10 strikeouts -- in his first start against the Red Sox since being traded to the Braves. If Sale has his wish, he'll get another crack at the team he played for across six seasons.
Rays at Marlins - loanDepot Park (Tickets)
Series opener: Friday at 7:10 p.m. ET
The Rays and Marlins have played every year since Tampa Bay’s inception as a franchise in 1998. And the Rays have dominated their Sunshine State foe, with an 81-60 head-to-head record all-time -- despite a 2-8 start to the rivalry. In fact, the Rays are 24-4 against the Marlins since the start of the 2019 season.
Cardinals at Royals - Kauffman Stadium (Tickets)
Series opener: Friday at 7:40 p.m. ET
In the I-70 series, the Royals reclaimed control of the interstate, taking the head-to-head series last season for the first time since 2016. The in-state foes have played every year since 1997, but the rivalry predates the start of Interleague play -- Kansas City and St. Louis met in the 1985 World Series, with the Royals winning their first championship in a seven-game thriller.
Twins at Brewers - American Family Field (Tickets)
Series opener: Friday at 8:10 p.m. ET
These two teams first met in 1969, back when the Brewers were the Seattle Pilots and the two clubs both called the American League home. Minnesota went 12-6 in the head-to-head series that year, and the Twins haven't looked back since: They own an all-time record of 255-242 against the Brewers.
Rockies at D-backs - Chase Field (Tickets)
Series opener: Friday at 9:40 p.m. ET
It’s the first Rocky Mountain Showdown of the year, as the NL West counterparts meet for the first of four series in 2025. Arizona is 19-7 against Colorado since the start of the 2023 season, widening its all-time advantage in the head-to-head series to 262-209, including the postseason. The D-backs beat the Rockies, 11-8, in the memorable 2017 NL Wild Card Game.
Mariners at Padres - Petco Park (Tickets)
Series opener: Friday at 9:40 p.m. ET
This season marks the first official year of the “Vedder Cup,” an ode to Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, once a resident of both Seattle and San Diego. The winner of the season series will earn a trophy, featuring a guitar provided by Vedder himself. Fans will also have the opportunity to buy Vedder Cup merchandise during the series, with the Padres hosting a Vedder Cup Series Theme Game on Saturday. The Mariners have a 68-63 all-time mark against the Padres, dating back to 1997.
Angels at Dodgers - Dodger Stadium (Tickets)
Series opener: Friday at 10:10 p.m. ET
Shohei Ohtani is a Freeway Series staple, spending the first six years of his career with the Angels before joining the Dodgers ahead of the 2024 season. Last year, Ohtani tormented his former team, launching a home run in each of the first two head-to-head games. And yet the Angels held their own against the eventual World Series champions, splitting the season series and snapping a 10-game losing streak against the Dodgers. The AL club holds a 75-73 all-time record against their NL counterpart.
Athletics at Giants - Oracle Park (Tickets)
Series opener: Friday at 10:15 p.m. ET
The last series to join the Rivalry Weekend party is a classic rivalry bout between two California-based squads. The Athletics own a 89-79 all-time record against the Giants, including a 13-7 mark in the postseason. Famously, the clubs clashed in the 1989 World Series, a four-game sweep by the Athletics to win the Fall Classic.