The Los Angeles Dodgers began their first road trip of the season with a loss in the opener of a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs on Friday.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is set to pitch at Wrigley Field in the second matchup, which will mark the first road start of his MLB career.
“That is going to be my first time, of course. And I’m looking forward to it, but I just have to keep the concentration,” said Yamamoto through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda of his scheduled start at Wrigley Field.
Known as “The Friendly Confines,” Wrigley Field opened in 1914 and is the second-oldest ballpark in MLB. Given its rich history, the stadium is one that many pitchers look forward to pitching in.
Aside from the allure of Wrigley Field, the Cubs have two Japanese natives on their roster in Shōta Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki that Yamamoto is excited to face.
“I am looking forward to seeing them out in Chicago, and then also through the whole season,” Yamamoto said. “There won’t be too many times to face them and then also meet them. So I’m looking forward to it.”
Yamamoto and Imanaga posed together for a photograph in the Wrigley Field outfield before Fridya’s game.
After their three-game series this weekend, the Dodgers and Cubs won’t face each other again until Sept. 9-11 for three games at Dodger Stadium.
As for Yamamoto, he is looking to build on a very encouraging start against the St. Louis Cardinals. After beginning his 2024 season on a sour note in the Seoul Series, he held the Cardinals to just two hits over five scoreless innings and collected five strikeouts.
Cubs, Dodgers likely playing Opening Day in Tokyo
After starting the 2024 season in South Korea, the Dodgers are now rumored to be part of Opening Day 2025 in Japan for a series against the Cubs that is expected to be played at the Tokyo Dome.
That potential matchup could entail Yamamoto again facing Suzuki, and potentially Shohei Ohtani if he is cleared to pitch by then.
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