The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs are beginning the 2025 MLB regular season with the Tokyo Series in Japan.
The two-game set takes place at the Tokyo Dome from March 18-19, with first pitch set for 7:10 p.m. local time (3:10 a.m. PT) in both contests.
The Tokyo Series will be the sixth time that MLB opens its regular season in Japan and first since 2019. It additionally marks the 25th anniversary of the first-ever regular season games played in Japan between the Cubs and the New York Mets.
The Tokyo Series opener will be broadcast by Fox and the second matchup is going to air on Fox Sports 1.
See you in Tokyo 🇯🇵@FOXSports will air the 2025 MLB Tokyo Series featuring the @Dodgers & @Cubs pic.twitter.com/Qv1EyUctn2
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) February 18, 2025
It’s the second consecutive year that an international series will kick off the MLB regular season. The Dodgers traveled to South Korea last year to face the San Diego Padres in the Seoul Series.
Prior to the Seoul Series, the Dodgers previously traveled abroad for regular season games with their first international series taking place during the 2014 season when they played the Arizona Diamondbacks in Australia.
The Dodgers later faced the Padres in Mexico during the 2018 campaign. L.A. also played two Spring Training games against San Diego in China before the 2008 season.
Before taking on the Cubs in the Tokyo Series, the Dodgers will play exhibition games against the Hanshin Tigers and Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) at the Tokyo Dome from March 15-16.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto excited for Opening Day start in Tokyo
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts already revealed that Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki will pitch in some capacity during the Tokyo Series, with the former likely getting the start on Opening Day.
Although those plans have not been finalized, Yamamoto said he is excited for the opportunity to pitch in his home country once again. It’s possible he will start opposite fellow Japanese native Shota Imanaga.
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