The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs are scheduled to open the 2025 regular season with the Tokyo Series in Japan.
The two-game series is taking 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).
The Dodgers and Cubs will also play respective exhibition games against the Hanshin Tigers and Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) at the Tokyo Dome.
It represents MLB’s sixth Opening Series in Japan and first since 2019, and additionally marks the 25th anniversary of the first-ever regular season games played in Japan between the Cubs and New York Mets.
For MLB, it’s the second consecutive year an international series will start regular season. Last year, the Dodgers traveled to South Korea to face the San Diego Padres in the Seoul Series.
The upcoming Tokyo Series marks the fourth time the Dodgers are traveling aboard. Their first international series came 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.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is expected to start on Opening Day, and Roki Sasaki is the Dodgers’ likely starter in the finale of the Tokyo Series.
The Cubs have fellow Japanese native Shota Imanaga lined up to start on Opening Day, and Justin Steele is their probable for the second game.
Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are the likely Dodgers pitchers for their exhibition games.
Tokyo Dome facts and history
The Tokyo Dome (Japanese: 東京ドーム) opened in March 1988 and is located in Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan. It’s a natural stadium choice for the Dodgers due to being covered by a dome and the potential for inclement weather at the time of the Tokyo Series.
Tokyo Dome’s capacity is 45,600 for a baseball game and between 42,000-55,000 for other events. Tokyo Dome dimensions are 330 feet down the left field line, 400 feet to straightaway center and 330 feet to right field as well.
Toyko Dome has been the home field of the Giants since 1988. It has also hosted games for all five World Baseball Classic tournaments.
Among other events at Tokyo Dome include several NFL preseason games, professional wrestling shows, concerts and monster truck races.
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