The Los Angeles Dodgers kicked off the 2025 regular season in dominant fashion, sweeping the Chicago Cubs in the two-game Tokyo Series despite missing several key stars. Baseball fans around the world were treated to a showcase of talent from both MLB teams, with Japanese players taking center stage in their homeland.
Yamamoto Shines, Ohtani Delivers in Game 1 Victory
In Game 1, the Dodgers secured a 4-1 win behind Yoshinobu Yamamoto‘s impressive 2025 debut. The Japanese right-hander delivered five strong innings of one-run ball, striking out four in the first-ever Opening Day matchup between two Japanese starting pitchers.
The Tokyo Dome erupted when Shohei Ohtani recorded his first hit this season, a blistering 107.4 mph line drive that helped spark a decisive fifth-inning rally. Even the usually composed Ohtani admitted feeling unusually nervous.
“It’s been a while that I felt actually this nervous playing a game,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. “I needed the first couple at-bats, I needed some time to adjust.”
Despite missing Mookie Betts and a late scratch of Freddie Freeman, the Dodgers offense still clicked. Tommy Edman, Teoscar Hernández, and Will Smith knocked in runs during a three-run fifth inning. Ohtani finished 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored, joining Hideki Matsui and Ichiro Suzuki as the only Japanese players with multiple hits in an MLB game at Tokyo Dome.
Sasaki Shows Potential, Dodgers Complete Sweep
Game 2 featured the highly anticipated MLB debut of Roki Sasaki, MLB Pipeline’s top-ranked prospect. The 23-year-old flashed his elite potential but also showed command issues in the Dodgers’ 6-3 victory.
Sasaki struck out three across three innings, allowing just one run, but struggled with control as he issued five walks and threw only 25 strikes in 56 pitches. The young phenom came out firing, touching 99.5 mph with his first pitch and hitting 99-plus mph eight times in the first inning.
“I think it was a really good thing that I was able to pitch with a good nervousness,” Sasaki said afterward. “It was a really excellent environment created by the Japanese fans, an environment that’s unique to Japan.”
Manager Dave Roberts noted the expected learning curve: “I think when you get youth and talent, which is Roki, what that introduces is variance. There’s going to be some really high highs, and then some things that you just don’t know that are gonna happen because of his inexperience.”
The Tokyo crowd erupted when Shohei Ohtani launched a towering home run in the fifth inning, one of the game’s biggest highlights. The blast traveled an estimated 450 feet, sending the Japanese fans into a frenzy as their hometown hero rounded the bases.
Freeman, Betts Expected Back Soon
The Dodgers navigated the series without their two front-running MVP candidates. Betts had already returned to Los Angeles to recover from significant weight loss and fatigue from the flu. Freeman was scratched shortly before Game 1 with the same rib discomfort he battled during last year’s postseason run, though reportedly less severe.
Enrique Hernández filled in admirably at first base during Freeman’s absence.
With a 2-0 start to the season, the Dodgers head back to Los Angeles for the Freeway Series against the Angels, beginning Sunday at Dodger Stadium. Both Freeman and Betts could return for the home opener against the Tigers on March 27.