The Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers got off to early starts with Spring Training this year due to beginning the regular season with the Tokyo Series.
They’re scheduled to play two games at the Tokyo Dome from March 18-19, leaving the teams roughly one month to prepare before departing from Arizona. It’s a second consecutive season in which the Dodgers are playing Opening Day overseas.
There’s plenty of excitement with the Cubs and Dodgers playing in Japan, specifically due to both rosters featuring players from the country.
According to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com, Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed Shota Imanaga is going to start against the Dodgers in one of the Tokyo Series games:
“Shota’s going to pitch in Japan,” Counsell said. “I think that’s mandated, kind of. I don’t think I have a choice, actually.”
While Counsell did not specify, it stands to reason Imanaga will start on Opening Day in Tokyo, give he is the ace of the Cubs staff.
The left-hander went 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA in 29 starts as a rookie last year. Imanaga threw four scoreless innings against the Dodgers last April at Wrigley Field.
He faced them a second time, and still fared well as Imanaga held the Dodgers to three runs over seven innings in a start at Dodger Stadium.
Games between the Dodgers and Cubs draw added attention in Japan due to Imanaga, Seiya Suzuki, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto being part of them. That’s been added onto for 2025 with Roki Sasaki choosing to sign with the Dodgers over the Toronto Blue Jays and San Diego Padres.
“I think that the Dodgers do have a home-field advantage in Japan,” said Joel Wolfe, agent to Yamamoto and Sasaki. “I was in Japan many times over the last couple years, but especially this year.
“Every single Dodgers game is broadcast live. So when you wake up every morning in Japan, every game is on TV because of Ohtani and Yamamoto. And they rebroadcast the games in the evening.
“When you go to a Japanese NPB game — for instance we went to watch a game in Fukuoka — and the Hawks have their home stadium shop that sells all the Fukuoka Hawks gear. Then there’s a pop-up shop for every visiting team that comes, and then there’s a Dodger shop. I saw that at the Tokyo Dome, I saw that at the Orix stadium. They’re everywhere.
“I think that all the players and fans see the Dodgers every day, so it’s always in their mind because of Ohtani and Yamamoto.”
Dodgers pitchers for Tokyo Series
The Dodgers have not yet announced their probable starts for the two games in Tokyo. However, Ohtani has already been ruled out due to the ongoing rehab process from both right elbow surgery in 2023 and this offseason’s left shoulder operation for a torn labrum.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has indicated Ohtani likely will not resume pitching until May.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers figure to choose two from Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Yamamoto and Sasaki as their Tokyo Series starters.
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