Frequently Asked Questions
When will the Cubs and Dodgers play in Tokyo for the 2025 season opener?
The Cubs and Dodgers will play a two-game series in Tokyo on March 18-19, 2025. This will be a couple of days before the official MLB Opening Day.
Which Japanese players will be featured in the Cubs vs Dodgers Tokyo series?
The Cubs will have Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga, while the Dodgers will feature Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. All three pitchers are likely to start in these games.
How many times has MLB played games in Japan before this series?
This will be the sixth-ever MLB series played in Japan. The last MLB games in Japan were in 2019.
Will Shohei Ohtani pitch for the Dodgers in the Tokyo games?
Yes, Ohtani is expected to make his pitching debut for the Dodgers in Tokyo after fully recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Why were the Cubs and Dodgers chosen to play the season opener in Japan?
The two teams make the most sense because they have the biggest Japanese stars in MLB. The Cubs have Suzuki and Imanaga, while the Dodgers have Ohtani and Yamamoto.