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:
Trying to stem the momentum from Shohei Ohtani’s majestic home run in the top of the fifth, the Cubs got a run back in the bottom of the inning against Dodgers reliever Jack Dreyer, who was making his MLB debut.
With two outs and no one on base, rookie Matt Shaw hit a grounder that deflected off Dreyer’s glove for an infield single. Dansby Swanson followed that with a double into the left field corner to score a sliding Shaw and bring the Cubs back to within three runs.
After the Cubs clawed back a run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by Ian Happ, Shohei Ohtani gave the Tokyo Dome crowd what it came to see.
Facing Cubs reliever Nate Pearson, Ohtani turned around a 99.1 mph fastball and launched a high fly ball to right center. As the outfielders retreated to the warning track, a fan reached out and deflected the ball back onto the playing field.
The initial call of a home run went to replay, which confirmed the first homer and RBI of Ohtani’s 2025 season.
He led the National League a year ago in both categories with 54 home runs and 130 RBI.
Rōki Sasaki’s MLB debut is done after three innings: 1 run, 1 hit, 5 walks, 3 strikeouts, 56 pitches. He hit 100 mph several times, but struggled with command, walking one run in. Luis Garcia takes the mound for the Dodgers in the fourth inning.
After the Cubs scored on a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the third inning, the Dodgers responded again in the fourth. Kiké Hernandez slugged a two-run home run off Justin Steele to extend the lead to 5-1.
According to Inside Edge, The Dodgers are 112-30 (.789) when they’ve hit two or more home runs since the 2023 season, second best in MLB.
One thing missing from Tuesday’s season-opener in Japan was the opportunity for fans at the Tokyo Dome to celebrate a home run.
Dodgers second baseman Tommy Edman checked that box in the top of the third inning when he launched a high fly ball into the left field seats off Cubs southpaw Justin Steele.
Edman was traded to the Dodgers at the trade deadline last season, but didn’t make his season debut until August as he recovered from offseason wrist surgery. Against left-handed pitchers last year, Edman was 14-for-34 (.412) with four home runs and an .882 slugging percentage.
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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