Dodgers Exhibition Games Schedule Before Tokyo Series

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The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs are opening the 2025 MLB season with the Tokyo Series in Japan.

The two-game set will take place at the Tokyo Dome from March 18-19, with start times still to be determined for both contests.

Prior to facing off in the regular season opener, the Dodgers and Cubs are expected to play exhibition games against Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) teams.

According to Yakyu Cosmopolitan, the Dodgers will play two exhibition games against the Hanshin Tigers from March 15-16:

The Dodgers also played exhibition games against the Kiwoom Heroes and the Korean national team before opening the 2024 season with the Seoul Series in South Korea.

The upcoming Tokyo Series marks the fourth time the Dodgers will be playing overseas. They previously opened the 2014 season with a series in Australia and also played in Mexico four years later.

The Tokyo Series will be the sixth time that MLB opens its regular season in Tokyo, and the 25th anniversary of the first-ever regular season games played in Japan in 2000 between the Cubs and the New York Mets.

It will be the first MLB games played in Japan since the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics opened the 2019 season at the Tokyo Dome.

MLB cancels some 2025 World Tour Games

Although the Dodgers and Cubs are opening the 2025 MLB season in Japan, commissioner Rob Manfred said plans to play games in Puerto Rico next year have been canceled.

Manfred also revealed that the 2025 Mexico City Series has been canceled, but did note MLB will return to the country in the future.

MLB also intended to play regular-season games in France, but that will no longer happen due to a lack of a presenting sponsor.

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Matt Borelli covers the Los Angeles Dodgers as a senior editor for Dodger Blue and holds similar responsibilities for Lakers Nation, a sister site with an emphasis on the Los Angeles Lakers. He also contributes to RamsNewswire.com and RaidersNewswire.com. An avid fantasy sports player, Matt is a former 2014 MLB Beat the Streak co-champion. His favorite Dodgers moment, among a list of many, is Clayton Kershaw's no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies in 2014. Follow him on X/Twitter: @mcborelli.
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