Tokyo Series Game 1: Lineups, starting pitchers and more

TOKYO -- Five Japanese stars are back on home soil as Major Leaguers -- among them Shohei Ohtani, coming off a season for the ages -- and the reigning World Series champion Dodgers take the first step in defending their title.

That only scratches the surface of the intriguing storylines taking place at the 2025 Tokyo Series.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shota Imanaga will take center stage on Tuesday for Game 1 at 6 a.m. ET live on FOX, SportsNet LA, the Marquee Sports Network and MLB.TV, becoming the first pair of Japanese starting pitchers to face off against each other on Opening Day.

"To be on a stage like this in Tokyo, Japanese pitchers facing off on the field is an incredible opportunity," Yamamoto said through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda. "I’m going to try my best to perform."

The Cubs were aiming for the postseason in each of the last two years, but fell short and posted 83 wins in both campaigns. Outfielder Seiya Suzuki -- after watching Ohtani and Yamamoto celebrate their triumph with the Dodgers last year -- hopes Chicago can make a deep run in the playoffs this fall.

“That’s the goal every year,” Suzuki said via interpreter during Spring Training. “I think that’s the goal for any team -- just get to the playoffs. Watching other Japanese players last season play in the playoffs -- and our season got short -- for me, I want to play in the playoffs.”

That quest begins in Tokyo.

“We get the opportunity to play the world champions,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said, “which means it’s a great challenge and a great way to start our test.”

Here is everything you need to know about Opening Day:

When is the game and how can I watch it?

The opening game of the Tokyo Series is set for 5:10 a.m. CT/3:10 a.m. PT. The game will be aired nationally on FOX, while also available on Marquee Sports Network and SportsNet L.A., along with MLB.TV. The game will be aired on the radio on 670 AM The Score and WRTO 1200 AM for Chicago and on Dodgers Radio AM 570 and KTNQ 1020 AM for Los Angeles.

• MLB's history of games played abroad

What are the starting lineups?

Freddie Freeman was a late scratch from Tuesday's opener in Tokyo.

Dodgers

1. Shohei Ohtani, DH
2. Tommy Edman, 2B
3. Teoscar Hernández, RF
4. Will Smith, C
5. Max Muncy, 3B
6. Kiké Hernández, 1B
7. Michael Conforto, LF
8. Miguel Rojas, SS
9. Andy Pages, CF

Cubs

1. Ian Happ, LF
2. Seiya Suzuki, DH
3. Kyle Tucker, RF
4. Michael Busch, 1B
5. Matt Shaw, 3B
6. Dansby Swanson, SS
7. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
8. Miguel Amaya, C
9. Jon Berti, 2B

Who are the starting pitchers?

Dodgers: RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto

2024 Season: 7-2, 3.00 ERA in 90 innings

Expectations are high for Yamamoto following a solid first season in the Majors. The Dodgers saw the 26-year-old right-hander rise to the occasion last postseason, when he was one of only three healthy traditional starting pitchers the team used en route to winning the World Series. With the stuff he has and a year in the big leagues under his belt, Yamamoto could have a big year ahead of him.

• Yamamoto, Imanaga primed for Tokyo Series showdown

Cubs: LHP Shota Imanaga

2024 Season: 15-3, 2.91 ERA in 173 1/3 innings

Tokyo Dome will be filled with fans who know Imanaga from his days pitching for Yokohama or for his role as the gold-medal game starter for Team Japan in the ‘23 World Baseball Classic. In his first taste of the Majors, the 31-year-old lefty made the National League All-Star team, while finishing fourth and fifth in voting for the NL Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards.

How might the bullpens line up after the starter?

Dodgers: After rolling out a tandem start in Sunday's exhibition against the Hanshin Tigers, the Dodgers should have a fully rested 'pen for the Tokyo Series opener. They'll have length behind Yamamoto if needed, as they have a surplus of traditional starters for the two-game set. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts should have every option available as the bridge to Tanner Scott, who has not been anointed Los Angeles' closer but should regardless get the majority of save opportunities this season.

Cubs: With extra bullpen arms for this two-game series, the Cubs have ample depth behind Imanaga and Game 2 starter Justin Steele. Veteran closer Ryan Pressly was a key pick-up over the winter, but righties Porter Hodge, Nate Pearson, Julian Merryweather and Tyson Miller also return as key setup arms. Chicago also added veteran lefty Caleb Thielbar and righty Eli Morgan over the winter. Righty Colin Rea is among the arms who offer multi-inning depth.

Any injuries of note?

Dodgers: Betts will miss both games of the series due to an illness that also kept him out of the Dodgers' exhibition games at the Tokyo Dome over the weekend. Tony Gonsolin, Michael Kopech and Evan Phillips are among the players who will open the season on the injured list, which was expected by the time the Dodgers wrapped their Cactus League slate.

Cubs: Second baseman Nico Hoerner did not make the trip to Japan, as his comeback from right flexor tendon (forearm) surgery in October lingered into the early part of Spring Training. While the Cubs went overseas, Hoerner stayed in Arizona to begin playing in games. The goal is to have him ready for the domestic opener on March 27 against the D-backs. Righty Javier Assad (left oblique) is throwing, but his injury in Spring Training will result in a season-opening stint on the injured list.

Who’s hot and who’s not?

Dodgers: Conforto, whom Roberts called his "pick to click" this season, swung the bat really well in the late days of spring, going 6-for-14 with three doubles and a homer in March. He also homered in Saturday's exhibition against the Yomiuri Giants. Several Dodgers didn't get it going at the plate in the Cactus League, among them Smith and Muncy, but spring results aren't a reliable indicator of regular-season performance.

Cubs: Crow-Armstrong and Amaya turned their seasons around in the second-half last year and picked up where they left off in Cactus League play. Crow-Armstrong hit .519 with a 1.500 OPS in 10 games and Amaya hit .524 with a 1.450 OPS in seven games before boarding the plane to Japan. Other standouts included Gage Workman (1.201 OPS), Busch (1.177 OPS) and Happ (.917 OPS). Tucker (1-for-23 with a homer) struggled to get his timing going, but was not too concerned.

Anything else fans might want to know?

• This is the Cubs’ second visit to Japan for an opening series. The North Siders split a two-game set with the Mets to begin the 2000 season, picking up a 5-1 win on Opening Day at the Tokyo Dome. In that victory, Sammy Sosa went 2-for-3, Mark Grace belted a homer and Jon Lieber earned the win.
• The Cubs and Dodgers boast five current players from Japan, but each ballclub has a rich history of players from the country. Hideo Nomo and Kosuke Fukudome were the first Japanese players for the Dodgers and Cubs, respectively, paving the way for plenty more to follow over the years.
• Previously, only three Japanese pitchers had appeared in a Major League game at the Tokyo Dome: Daisuke Matsuzaka (2008), Hideki Okajima (2008) and Yusei Kikuchi (2019). With Yamamoto and Imanaga going in the opener, and Roki Sasaki making his MLB debut in Game 2, that number will double by the time this series is over.