by
admin
Chicago Cubs 2025 schedule, players and season preview
Quick poll for the Bleacher Bums:
How many games will you catch at Wrigley this season?
⬜ 0–3 (casual viewer) ⬜ 4–9 ⬜ 10–19 ⬜ 20+ ⬜ Season ticket holder
📊 Current season snapshot
The Cubs are powering through the early stretch of 2025 with an impressive 22–14 record, currently sitting tied for first in the NL Central. Their league-leading offense is averaging a hefty 6.0 runs per game with a .262 team batting average (1st in MLB), while the pitching staff has posted a respectable 3.77 ERA (13th).
The recent hamstring injury to Shota Imanaga is a concern, but manager Craig Counsell’s squad has shown remarkable resilience in his second season at the helm.
🌏 Tokyo to Wrigley: a season of milestones
The Cubs made history this March, opening their season against the Dodgers in Tokyo—a matchup that generated worldwide attention with Japanese stars Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki facing countrymen Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
While the season start was a mixed bag (1–1 in Tokyo), this Cubs team quickly found its footing back stateside, with Crow-Armstrong’s breakout performance highlighting their early success.
📅 Must-see matchups: mark your calendars
| 📅 Date | Opponent | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| May 16–18 | vs. Chicago White Sox | Crosstown Classic at Wrigley—first round of expanded city rivalry |
| July 4–6 | vs. St. Louis Cardinals | Independence Day weekend against our oldest rivals |
| July 11–13 | at New York Yankees | Rare trip to the Bronx—chance to test NL’s best offense against AL power |
| July 18–20 | vs. Boston Red Sox | Iconic interleague matchup with playoff hunt implications |
| Sept 26–28 | vs. St. Louis Cardinals | Season finale at Wrigley could decide division race |
📥 Download the complete schedule (ICS/PDF/CSV) and sync with your calendar.
🌱 Prospect watch: future Cubs making noise
| Name | Position | ETA | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Shaw | 3B/IF | Already debuted | Top prospect with versatile infield skills and advanced bat |
| Cade Horton | RHP | Summer 2025 | Electric arm knocking on the door for mid-season rotation boost |
| Owen Caissie | OF | Late 2025 | Left-handed power bat with middle-of-the-order potential |
| Kevin Alcántara | OF | September 2025 | Towering outfielder (6’6”) with rare power-speed combination |
| Jefferson Rojas | SS | 2026 | Highly-touted international signing with slick defensive skills |
The Cubs farm system boasts seven prospects on the MLB Top 100 list—tied for the most in the National League. Matt Shaw has already made his MLB debut, showing why he was the organization’s top prospect with his advanced approach at the plate.
🎁 Promotion heaven: giveaways to grab
| Date | Opponent | Giveaway item | Early arrival tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 4 | vs. Padres | 2025 Magnet Schedule | First 30,000 fans—line up early |
| July 3 | vs. Guardians | 100th Anniversary Radio Bluetooth Speaker | Plan to arrive 2+ hours before first pitch |
| July 6 | vs. Cardinals | Cubs Hawaiian Shirt (21+) | Perfect for Cardinals rivalry Sunday |
| Aug 3 | vs. Orioles | Greg Maddux 1988 Rain Delay Bobblehead | A must-have collectible for die-hards |
| Sept 12 | vs. Rays | Cubs Vintage Tee (Bleacher fans 21+) | Exclusive to the Budweiser Bleachers |
🔑 Three keys to October baseball
- Rotation stability – Can Imanaga stay healthy after his early hamstring issue? Will Steele finally put together a full season as the ace?
- Continued offensive dominance – The league-leading 217 runs scored isn’t a fluke; this lineup is deep and dangerous
- Prospect integration – Successfully blending promising young talent like Shaw with veterans could give the team a second-half surge
🚆 The road ahead
While starting the season in Tokyo was historic, the Cubs face a challenging schedule with 13 games against the rival Cardinals and an expanded Crosstown Classic against the White Sox. The balanced schedule means they’ll face every MLB team at least once, with Wrigley hosting intriguing interleague matchups against the Red Sox, Guardians, and Orioles.
The unique schedule also means one fewer home series at Wrigley Field (79 home games instead of the usual 81), making each trip to the Friendly Confines that much more special for die-hard fans.