The 2025 MLB season kicks off in Japan next week with the Tokyo Series, featuring the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs. Dodgers rookie Roki Sasaki is expected to make his MLB debut back home in Japan on Wednesday.
The two teams will play a two-game regular-season series at the Tokyo Dome on March 18 and 19, more than a week before Opening Day for the rest of the league in the United States and Canada.
For the rest of MLB, it will still be spring training — and after the Tokyo Series, both the Cubs and Dodgers will return to Arizona to resume their preseason schedules.
MLB’s History in Japan
This isn’t the first time Major League Baseball has hosted games in Japan.
On March 29, 2000, the Cubs and New York Mets played a two-game series at the Tokyo Dome in front of 55,000 fans, splitting the series 1–1.
They would be followed by four other series, including one between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays in 2004.
This Year’s Tokyo Series
Before the official games, both teams will face off against storied Nippon Professional Baseball franchises in exhibition matchups this weekend.
The Cubs and Dodgers will play a game each against the Hanshin Tigers and Yomiuri Giants.
The Tokyo Series between the Dodgers and Cubs begins on Tuesday, March 18, and concludes on Wednesday, March 19.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is scheduled to get the start in Game 1 of the series against the Cubs’ Shota Imanaga, while Sasaki is set to start Game 2.
Both games will be broadcast on Fox and FS1, airing at 6:10 AM Eastern Time, as well as on the teams’ regional sports networks: Marquee (Cubs) and SportsNet LA (Dodgers).
Tokyo Series Schedule and Tickets
All games will be played at the Tokyo Dome in Bunkyo, Japan.
Due to time zone differences, this weekend’s games that begin at noon in Tokyo will actually begin a day earlier in the U.S.
Friday, March 14 (U.S.)/Saturday, March 15 (Japan)
Chicago Cubs vs. Hanshin Tigers
Time: 11:00 PM (New York), 10:00 PM (Chicago), 8:00 PM (Los Angeles), 12:00 PM (March 15, Tokyo)
TV: Marquee
Saturday, March 15, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Yomiuri Giants
Time: 6:00 AM (New York), 5:00 AM (Chicago), 3:00 AM (Los Angeles), 7:00 PM (Tokyo)
TV: SportsNet LA
Saturday, March 15 (U.S.)/Sunday, March 16 (Japan)
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Hanshin Tigers
Time: 11:00 PM (New York), 10:00 PM (Chicago), 8:00 PM (Los Angeles), 12:00 PM (March 16, Tokyo)
TV: SportsNet LA
Sunday, March 16, 2025
Chicago Cubs vs. Yomiuri Giants
Time: 6:00 AM (New York), 5:00 AM (Chicago), 3:00 AM (Los Angeles), 7:00 PM (Tokyo)
TV: Marquee
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs
Time: 6:10 AM (New York), 5:10 AM (Chicago), 3:10 AM (Los Angeles), 7:10 PM (Tokyo)
Probable Pitchers: Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. Shota Imanaga
TV: Fox, Marquee, SportsNet LA
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs
Time: 6:10 AM (New York), 5:10 AM (Chicago), 3:10 AM (Los Angeles), 7:10 PM (Tokyo)
Probable Pitchers: Roki Sasaki vs. Justin Steele
TV: FS1, Marquee, SportsNet LA
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