In a season-opening matchup that featured two of Japan’s most accomplished pitchers, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani helped power the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs at the Tokyo Dome on Tuesday. The game marked the official start of the 2025 Major League Baseball season and served as a homecoming for both starting pitchers, who began their professional careers in Japan.
The Dodgers entered the contest as moderate betting favorites, with most sportsbooks listing them at around -135 on the moneyline. The Cubs, viewed as underdogs in the opener, were priced near +115. The over-under total was set at 7.5, and the teams combined for five runs in a game dominated by pitching.
Yamamoto, making his regular-season debut with the Dodgers after signing a high-profile deal in the offseason, delivered five strong innings. The right-hander allowed one run on three hits, walked one, and struck out four to earn the win. His only blemish came in the second inning when Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya doubled in Dansby Swanson to give Chicago an early 1-0 lead.
Cubs starter Shota Imanaga, also making his first Major League appearance, was effective over four innings. He did not allow a hit but issued four walks before being removed from the game. The Dodgers capitalized in the fifth inning after Imanaga exited, scoring three runs off reliever Ben Brown. A throwing error by second baseman Jon Berti helped set the stage, and RBI singles from Tommy Edman and Will Smith gave Los Angeles a 3-1 advantage.
Ohtani played a key role in the Dodgers’ offense. The two-time MVP went 2-for-5 with a single and a double, scoring twice. His first hit of the game came in the fifth inning and helped spark the decisive rally. Ohtani later led off the ninth with a double and came around to score the team’s fourth run.
The Dodgers’ bullpen combined to shut down the Cubs for the remainder of the game. Yamamoto, Anthony Banda, Ben Casparius, and Blake Treinen held Chicago without a hit from the third inning through the eighth. The streak of 16 consecutive batters retired was snapped when Treinen hit Berti with a pitch in the eighth. Tanner Scott pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save.
Chicago’s offense was limited to three hits, all coming in the first three innings. After Amaya’s RBI double, the Cubs struggled to generate additional scoring threats.
Los Angeles was without two key players in the opener. First baseman Freddie Freeman was scratched from the lineup with left rib discomfort, while shortstop Mookie Betts missed the game due to illness and is expected to sit out both games in the Japan series.
The two-game series will conclude Wednesday night in Tokyo. Japanese rookie Roki Sasaki is scheduled to make his highly anticipated Major League debut for the Dodgers. Left-hander Justin Steele will take the mound for the Cubs in the second game of the international set.
