After a memorable opener at the Tokyo Dome, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs face off in the second game of the 2025 season on Wednesday – with phenom Rōki Sasaki making his MLB debut in his home country.
The 23-year-old Sasaki had a 2.10 ERA in 64 NPB games over four seasons before choosing to sign with the defending World Series champion Dodgers, giving Los Angeles a trio of Japanese stars alongside Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
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The Dodgers claimed a 4-1 victory in Tuesday’s opener led by Ohtani (2-for-5, two runs) and Yamamoto (5 IP, one run) and now send their newest acquisition to the mound against Cubs left-hander Justin Steele.
After Wednesday’s game, the teams will come back to the United States and get ready for the domestic opening day on March 27.
Follow along for live updates from the second game of the Tokyo Series:
After taking the first game of the Tokyo Series, the Dodgers got a jump on a potential sweep with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning.
Catcher Will Smith led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third on a double by Max Muncy. The runners advanced and the Dodgers took the lead on a passed ball by Cubs catcher Carson Kelly. And L.A. added a second run when Kiké Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly to center, briging Muncy home.
Making his first start in the majors in front of his home fans, Dodgers pitcher Rōki Sasaki lived in the upper 90s with his fastball. He even hit the 100 mph mark on a pair of pitches in the opening inning.
Sasaki recorded his first MLB strikeout when he got countryman Seiya Suzuki on a foul-tipped 99.3 mph fastball.
Here are the batting orders for the second game of the Tokyo Series:
Los Angeles Dodgers
Chicago Cubs
First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 a.m. ET on Wednesday.
The second game of the Tokyo Series is on Fox Sports 1 and streaming via Fubo.
Wednesday’s game is airing on Fox Sports 1.
RHP Rōki Sasaki, Dodgers: The Dodgers’ prized winter addition makes his MLB debut in his home country. Sasaki, 23, had a 2.10 ERA in 64 games with Chiba Lotte, tacking up 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings.
LHP Justin Steele, Cubs: The 29-year-old had a 3.07 ERA in 2024, a year after finishing fifth in NL Cy Young voting.
It’s 328 feet down the lines and 400 feet to center field at the Tokyo Dome.
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