For the sixth time in MLB history, Opening Day in 2025 will take place across the ocean in Tokyo, Japan. Never has this international crossover been so important to the game of baseball. The world’s biggest player is Japanese talent Shohei Ohtani. In Japan, you can’t walk a block without seeing Ohtani’s face on an ad or starring on one of the country’s famous giant video ad screens.
Ohtani led the Los Angeles Dodgers to their eighth World Series Championship last year. The team has loaded up on talent in the offseason and are ready to defend their title. That defense starts on March 18th at the Tokyo Dome when the Dodgers open their season against the Chicago Cubs. This MLB Tokyo Series 2025 preview article will tell you everything you need to know about Opening Day for the 2025 MLB season.
Which Teams are Playing in the MLB Tokyo Series 2025?
This year’s Tokyo Series will see two of the MLB teams with the highest Japanese representation: the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs.
Headlined by Ohtani, the Dodgers will also use their prized 2024 free agent signing and Opening Day starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto. In the offseason, the Dodgers also signed highly-touted Japanese ace Roki Sasaki. In addition to this treacherous trio of Japanese aces, the Dodgers also have former MVPs Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, as well as former Cy Young award winner Blake Snell.
The Cubs will be sending their own Japanese ace to the mound on Opening Day as Shota Imanaga will take on Yamamoto on March 18th. Chicago will also have outfielder and Tokyo-native Seiya Suzuki in their lineup. Adding to the star power in the season opening series is newly signed outfielder for the Cubs and former Houston Astros superstar Kyle Tucker.
This isn’t just a matchup between two elite National League clubs, it is an age-old rivalry between two of the league’s oldest franchises. Throughout their rivalry, the Dodgers hold a slight edge over the Cubs in their head-to-head matchup. The Dodgers have a record of 1,072 wins, 1054 losses, and 14 ties. Last season, the Cubs had the upper hand, taking four of the six meetings and outscoring the Dodgers 42-29.
Where Will the MLB Tokyo Series Be Played?
This year’s MLB Tokyo Series will be played at the world-famous Tokyo Dome. The Tokyo Dome is home to the NPB’s Yomiuri Giants and has been home to ten regular-season MLB games. The MLB has held Opening Days at the Tokyo Dome in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2019. The Cubs were a part of the first Tokyo Series in 2000 when they played the New York Mets.
The Tokyo Dome, also known as the Big Egg, was built in 1988 and is used for most major events in Tokyo. It has been home to multiple NFL exhibition games, musical concerts, and pro wrestling events. The Tokyo Dome has a seating capacity of about 45,600 for baseball games. The Tokyo Dome is also the home of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.
When is the Tokyo Series 2025 Being Played?
The Tokyo Series 2025 is being played on March 18th and 19th for a quick two-game series. These games will be played at 7:10 PM Tokyo time, which means they will be played at 6:10 AM in the Eastern Time Zone. Both games will be aired live in the United States on FOX for Game 1 and FS1 for Game 2. In Canada, the games can be watched through the MLB app or on both your regional and national Sportsnet channels.
Before the Tokyo Series gets under way, the MLB teams will face off against some of the NPB’s top teams. On March 14th, the Cubs will face off in an exhibition game against Osaka’s Hanshin Tigers and then on the 16th they will face the hometown Yomiuri Giants. The Dodgers will take on both teams with split squads on March 15th.
All of the exhibition games can be seen live on MLB TV.
Can I Bet on the Tokyo Series 2025?
Absolutely. The full oddsboard for the Tokyo Series 2025 is already live and posted at BetVictor Canada. For both Tokyo Series games, Canadians can bet on a long list of markets including the moneyline, run-line, player props, first five inning props, and even exact scores.
For the MLB, users can bet on individual player props. Anything from total bases to hitting a home run to pitcher strikeouts. Some of these player props can even be parlayed in a Same Game Parlay to multiply your odds and payout.
As of now, the Dodgers are favourites in both games against the Cubs and are -175 to win Game 1 and -163 to win Game 2. On the runline, the Dodgers are -105 to win by two or more runs and +105 in Game 2. This indicates that the bookmakers believe that both games will likely be close.
The total runs for each game is set at over/under 8.5. This is a fairly standard total in MLB games. While both teams have potent offenses, they will both be sending elite starting pitchers to the mound. The Tokyo Dome itself is not smaller in size than other MLB stadiums. Being a covered, indoor stadium means that the elements and weather will not play a part in the game. This also means that there is the potential for more hard-hit balls to turn into home runs.
MLB Tokyo Series 2025: What to Expect
What can you expect from the 2025 MLB Tokyo Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers?
As fans, we can expect two solid games with some of the world’s best players being showcased in their home country. The Dodgers could be susceptible to a World Series hangover. This means that after playing so many games last season and having a shorter offseason, they could get out to a slow start this year.
The Cubs will be excited to show off their new-look roster headlined by the acquisition of star outfielder Kyle Tucker. Chicago also added Justin Turner and Jon Berti in the offseason for depth and will also want to unleash second-year star Pete Crow-Armstrong.
The Dodgers are the favourites in both games and for good reason. They are easily the deepest and most talented team from top to bottom, and that is reflected in their odds as the top team to repeat as the World Series Champions.
What is the MLB World Tour 2025?
The Tokyo Series is just the first stop on the MLB’s World Tour this year. Last season, the games started in Seoul, Korea. This year, after the Tokyo Series, the MLB will travel to Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. There, the Boston Red Sox will travel to play a pair of exhibition games against the Sultanes de Monterrey on March 24th and 25th.
MLB Tokyo Series FAQs
The MLB is opening its 2025 season with a pair of games between the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers in Tokyo, Japan on March 18th and 19th.
Yes, the Tokyo Series games between the Cubs and Dodgers will be regular season games and count for their records. The two teams will play exhibition games against the Hanshin Tigers and Yomiuri Giants in the days leading up to their Opening Day games on March 18th.
Yes! Shohei Ohtani will be playing as the Designated Hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Tokyo Series. Ohtani will not pitch in either game but fellow Japanese pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shota Imanaga will face off in Game 1 on March 18th.
