The MLB Opening Day is about to start where the champion team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, will open the 2025 season in Japan with the “Tokyo Series” on Tuesday, March 18 and Wednesday, March 19 against the Chicago Cubs. These games will have the peculiarity of the large number of Japanese players in each team who will perform in front of their home crowd.
In addition, MLB will open its regular season for the second consecutive year in the Asian market. A year ago it was in Seoul, South Korea, when the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres split the two-game series. The MLB regular season will consist of just over 2,500 games where the Californian team is one of the favorites to win the title again.
The Japanese quartet with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers are one of the most successful teams in Major League Baseball. Their victory in the 2024 World Series marked their eighth championship in franchise history. On this occasion, their roster includes three pitchers born in Japan, namely batting and pitching star Shohei Ohtani along with pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki, a newcomer but with very high expectations to be a rookie player in the MLB.
It is worth noting that Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was born in Japan, on the southern island of Okinawa. “For me it’s personal because I can represent the maternal side of the family. I have a lot of family and relatives who can watch a Dodgers game at night instead of having to watch us in the morning.”
Japanese players with the Chicago Cubs
On the other hand, the Chicago Cubs have a loyal fan base that cheered on the team that finally broke its 108-year World Series drought by winning in 2016. However, it has been eight years since that feat and they will be looking to reach the Fall Classic once again. Among their Japanese players are Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga.
When are the Dodgers vs Cubs games in the 2025 Tokyo Series?
The first of the two games will take place on Tuesday, March 18, and will kick off at 6:10 AM Eastern Time, 3:10 AM Pacific Time.
The second game will be a day later on Wednesday, March 19 at the same times (6:10 AM ET and 3:10 AM PT).
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