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Pitching Matchups Set for Dodgers & Cubs NPB Exhibition Games

Yuri KarasawaMar 14, 20254 MIN READ
Pitching Matchups Set for Dodgers & Cubs NPB Exhibition Games

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs have landed in Japan ahead of the Tokyo Series, where they will open the 2025 Major League Baseball season next week. This marks the second consecutive year the Dodgers begin their season in Asia, following last year’s Seoul Series against the San Diego Padres.

The highly anticipated Game 1 of the series will feature a showdown between Japanese countrymen: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD) and Shota Imanaga (CHC). In Game 2, Roki Sasaki will make his MLB debut for the Dodgers, facing off against Justin Steele of the Cubs.

Before the regular season opener, both teams will play two exhibition games against Japan’s most storied franchises, the Yomiuri Giants and Hanshin Tigers. The Giants and Tigers finished first and second in the Central League last season and remain among Nippon Professional Baseball’s strongest clubs.

Saturday, March 15

Hanshin Tigers vs. Chicago Cubs – 12:00 JST (March 14, 23:00 EST)

Probables: Keito Mombetsu (HAN) vs. Cubs bullpen game

Yomiuri Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers – 19:00 JST (March 15, 06:00 EST)

Probables: Shosei Togo (YOM) vs. Tyler Glasnow (LAD)

Sunday, March 16

Hanshin Tigers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers – 12:00 JST (March 15, 23:00 EST)

Hiroto Saiki (HAN) vs. Blake Snell (LAD)

Yomiuri Giants vs. Chicago Cubs – 19:00 JST (March 16, 06:00 EST)

Foster Griffin (YOM) vs. Jameson Taillon (CHC)

All exhibition games will be played at Tokyo Dome.

While official pitching matchups have not been confirmed, various reports have hinted at the expected starters.

Tyler Glasnow, who pitched in last year’s Seoul Series, is set to start for the Dodgers against the Yomiuri Giants on Saturday night. Despite his 2024 season being cut short due to injury, his debut campaign with Los Angeles after being traded from the Tampa Bay Rays was a great success. The 31-year-old posted a 3.49 ERA, 2.90 FIP, and averaged 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings across 22 starts.

His opponent will be 24-year-old ace Shosei Togo, who had an outstanding 2024 season with a 1.95 ERA, 3.07 FIP, and 7.8 strikeouts per nine innings over 26 starts. Togo was also a key member of Samurai Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, pitching two innings in the championship game against Team USA.

Blake Snell, who signed a five-year contract worth $182 million this winter, is expected to take the mound for the Dodgers on Sunday. The Hanshin Tigers will counter with their ace, Hiroto Saiki, one of NPB’s top starters last season. Saiki posted a 1.83 ERA, 2.44 FIP across 25 starts, relying on a high-spin fastball and splitter as his main weapons. He will also be looking for a bit of redemption against Shohei Ohtani, who famously took him deep from one knee in an exhibition game before the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Meanwhile, the Cubs have opted for a bullpen game on Saturday, where they will face Keito Mombetsu of the Hanshin Tigers. The 20-year-old top prospect has limited NPB experience but is expected to earn a spot in Hanshin’s opening day rotation this season.

Chicago will then turn to Jameson Taillon for Sunday night’s game, while Yomiuri will start Foster Griffin, one of NPB’s top foreign pitchers. Since coming to Japan in 2023, the 29-year-old southpaw has a 2.88 ERA in 40 starts. Additionally, former New York Yankees star Masahiro Tanaka is expected to pitch in the game, marking his first appearance against MLB hitters in five years. The 36-year-old legend signed with Yomiuri over the offseason after one of the worst seasons of his career with the Rakuten Eagles.

Notable Japanese hitters to watch include Koji Chikamoto, Teruaki Sato, Shota Morishita, and Yusuke Ohyama for the Hanshin Tigers. The Yomiuri Giants will showcase Kazuma Okamoto, Yoshihiro Maru, Naoki Yoshikawa, and Hayato Sakamoto.

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