The 2025 MLB Tokyo Series Recap

The MLB season kicked off in Tokyo, Japan, with a two-game series between the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs. The games were played on Tuesday, March 18, and Wednesday, March 19, at the Tokyo Dome. This event marked MLB's first return to Japan since 2019.

The Japanese fans packed the Tokyo Dome to see their hometown heroes play. Both organizations featured notable players with Japanese roots. The Dodgers' roster included international superstar Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki, while the Cubs were represented by Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki.

Game 1 Recap

The Los Angeles Dodgers started the 2025 MLB season with a 4-1 win over the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo. This game made history as the first Opening Day matchup between two Japanese starting pitchers.

Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto had a strong outing, throwing 5 innings and allowing just 1 run while striking out 4 batters. Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga pitched well too, holding the Dodgers scoreless for 4 innings and striking out 2. However, he struggled to control his pitches, walking 4 batters, which made his pitch count go up and forced him out of the game early.

The Cubs took the lead in the second inning when shortstop Dansby Swanson got the first hit of the season and later scored on a double by catcher Miguel Amaya. The Dodgers bounced back in the 5th inning with a big three-run rally. Outfielder Andy Pages walked, and Shohei Ohtani got his first hit of the season, giving the Japanese fans something to cheer about. Second baseman Tommy Edman brought in Pages with a base hit, and then Ohtani scored when Cubs second baseman Jon Berti made a throwing error. Will Smith followed with a single to drive in Teoscar Hernández, giving the Dodgers a 3-1 lead.

Ohtani wasn’t done yet. In the 9th inning, he crushed a 108 mph double, then came around to score on a hit by Hernández, making it 4-1.

The Tokyo crowd got to see a great game, with the Dodgers winning and their Japanese stars shining. Ohtani finished with two hits and two runs, giving fans plenty to cheer about on Opening Day.

Game 2 Recap

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Chicago Cubs 6-3 to complete a two-game sweep in Tokyo. The game featured the highly anticipated MLB debut of 23-year-old Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki.

Sasaki showed flashes of his incredible talent, throwing 100 mph fastballs and nasty breaking pitches. He pitched 3 innings, striking out 3 batters and allowing just 1 hit and 1 run. However, he struggled with control, walking 4 batters.

On the other side, Cubs starter Justin Steele had a tough time against the defending champs, giving up 5 runs in just 4 innings.

The Dodgers got on the board in the 2nd inning when they scored on a passed ball to make it 1-0. First baseman Kiké Hernández added to the lead with a sacrifice fly, making it 2-0. In the 3rd inning, second baseman Tommy Edman crushed his first home run of the season to extend the lead to 3-0.

The Cubs answered back in the bottom of the 3rd when outfielder Kyle Tucker drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 3-1.

Hernández struck again in the 4th inning, blasting a two-run homer to left field to give the Dodgers a 5-1 lead. But the Cubs kept fighting—outfielder Ian Happ hit an RBI single in the bottom of the 4th to cut the lead to 5-2.

Then came the moment Japanese fans had been waiting for. In the top of the 5th, Shohei Ohtani launched a towering home run to center field, electrifying the Tokyo crowd and making it 6-2 Dodgers.

The Cubs tried to rally in the bottom of the 5th when shortstop Dansby Swanson smashed an RBI double, cutting the lead to 6-3. But after that, both teams' offenses went quiet.

Dodgers left-hander Alex Vesia closed out the game in the 9th inning, securing the save and sealing the 6-3 victory for Los Angeles.

With the win, the Dodgers completed the sweep and gave Japanese fans an unforgettable series, with Sasaki making his debut and Ohtani delivering a thrilling home run.

Record Breaking International Event

The 2025 Tokyo Series was a record-breaking international event for Major League Baseball. According to MLB.com, it was the largest standalone international event in league history, setting records for TV viewership, attendance, and merchandise sales. Game 1 drew an incredible 25 million viewers, while Game 2 had 23 million.

The excitement was fueled by the presence of Japanese stars on both teams, including Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki for the Dodgers, as well as Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga for the Cubs. Their performances made the series even more special, capturing the attention of baseball fans around the world.