Dodgers Sweep Cubs in Tokyo Series

Published on by Dennis Schlossman

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.

20 thoughts on “Dodgers Sweep Cubs in Tokyo Series”

  1. Great start to the season. I would have been satisfied with a split considering what traveling that far does to a body.

    A few thoughts:

    1. Winning both games without Mookie or Freddie just shows what a really strong lineup we have.
    2. Once we get Shohei, Gonsolin, Phillips and Kopech back, not to mention Kershaw, Graterol and Sheehan later in the year, this could be the strongest pitching staff ever assembled.
    3. Sasaki’s debut was much more positive than negative. Yamamoto, with much more experience, was far worse in his first appearance last year, and he turned out just fine. Especially liked Roki’s coming back after loading the bases and giving up a run to then strike out the last two batters. That’s exactly the kind of situation where Bobby Miller has had some of his worst meltdowns.

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      1. CK, Gonsolin, Knack and Wrobleski will all be available to sub for Glasnow sooner or later along with the possibility of Miller and Sheehan at some point. Of course, they might have to sub for one of the other 5 as well.

        I think 20 is a pretty accurate number but my official guess is 18.

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      2. CK, Gonsolin, Knack and Wrobleski will all be available to sub for Glasnow sooner or later along with the possibility of Miller and Sheehan at some point. Of course, they might have to sub for one of the other 5 as well.

        I think 20 is a pretty accurate number but my official guess is 18.

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      4. I feel badly for some of these young pitchers who are going to be shuffled back and forth to OKC indefinitely. They’d do him a big favor to trade him, and although I agree he’d be a 4 or 5 on more than half of MLB teams, I’m not sure his trade value is all that high.

        He’s the Rodney Dangerfield of baseball.

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      6. He’s been one of my favorites ever since he got here. Hope he’ll be able to be activated before too long, but knowing AF he might just be slow playing it so he’ll be available in Sept/Oct.

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      7. He’s been one of my favorites ever since he got here. Hope he’ll be able to be activated before too long, but knowing AF he might just be slow playing it so he’ll be available in Sept/Oct.

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  2. Enjoyed the series win. Makes sense that the first Dodger to homer this year would be Edman. Tommy Tanks is a good nickname for him. Sasaki had the jitters. That was obvious. I was a little miffed that Smith did not go out and try to settle him down. I am not a huge Knack fan. He gives up homers at about the same rate as Lynn. Some last-minute trades might be coming on other teams. The Phillies have some issues in their starting rotation with Suarez having some issues right now. Supposedly both Dylan Cease and Jordan Montgomery are being offered by their teams in trade. Patrick Corbin was signed to a one-year deal by the Rangers to replace Jon Gray who went on the IL. Verdugo is still a free agent.

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    1. If ever a guy’s personality and style of play was meant for the Dodgers, it’s Edman. Really enjoy watching him do his thing(s).

      With all the teams who are having last minute pitching problems, I agree that we might see some trades before next Thursday. We know the D’backs would love to move Montgomery but it seems like Preller has waffled back and forth on Cease all off season. He’s on the market, then they’re keeping him, then on, then off. I guess, as the say, everyone has a price.

      Granted, Verdugo’s personality has probably hurt him somewhat, but just the other day I was reading an article that quoted about 4 Yankee players, all of whom couldn’t believe that he hadn’t found a spot yet. They seemed very positive about him. To me, his personality is perfect for the Padres, but that ship has probably sailed with their signings of JHey and Connor Joe.

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      1. Well, it only took an hour after my post about him for Verdugo to find a new home.

        Atlanta – 1 year, 1.5 mil. I expect that the Braves will get their money’s worth and more.

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  3. Verdugo agreed to go to AAA to ramp up. Braves out righted Luke Williams to AAA Gwinnett. Padres selected the contract of OF-1B Gavin Sheets.

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  6. I think it would be a wise move to place Mookie on the IL to begin the season. Rojas and Edman can cover SS. Bring Bote up to add some versatility to the roster. Kike, Edman and Pages can cover CF, and Bote could back up any of the infielders.

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    1. Makes sense to me.

      Not only should Mookie head for the IL but I really hope they’re having him seen by a specialist rather than just having the regular Dodger med staff deal with this. Sounds like it could be something a lot more serious than a bad case of the flu.

      And yes, Bote should be first in line for a call up, unless they think Freeland is ready to get some time in the Big Show, and I definitely don’t think that’s the case.

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  8. Dino Ebel did a great job explaining his job while miced up last night. One more exhibition and then we are a go. Mookie able to keep down solid food. Decision as to whether or not he plays will be made after the workout today.

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  9. Dodgers power took center stage last night. Always great to win the home opener. Teo teed off on Skubal, who up until that point was inducing a lot of soft contact. Tommy Tanks does it again, and then Ohtani hitting what ended up being the winning run.

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