We’re simply days away from the soft launch of the 2025 MLB season in Tokyo, the place the defending world champion Los Angeles Dodgers will face off in opposition to the Chicago Cubs.
Each groups just lately introduced their possible beginning pitchers for the two-game set, which begins on March 18, and the matchups will you’ll want to drum up intrigue for each informal and diehard followers alike.
This is the short rundown:
Sport 1:
RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Dodgers) versus LHP Shota Imanaga (Cubs).
Sport 2: RHP Roki Sasaki (Dodgers) versus LHP Justin Steele (Cubs).
Los Angeles shall be showcasing its two Japanese right-handers, each of whom are anticipated to be integral components of the Dodgers’ 2025 rotation.
Yamamoto, 26, had a powerful first season in MLB with a 3.00 ERA in 18 begins for Los Angeles after signing a large 12-year, $325M contract with the Dodgers previous to the 2024 season.
Sasaki, in the meantime, will make his stateside debut in 2025. However throughout his time in Japanese professional ball, he was among the most dominant pitchers ever. Moreover, the 23-year-old has already impressed in a few spring-training begins to this point.
As for the Cubs’ hurlers, each additionally carry spectacular pedigrees of their very own.
Southpaw Imanaga may need flown below the radar when in comparison with the hype of Yamamoto and now Sasaki, however he should not have: The 31-year-old’s 2.91 ERA over 29 begins in his first MLB season earned him an All-Star look and fifth place in 2024 Nationwide League Cy Younger balloting.
Chicago will ship co-ace and fellow left-hander Justin Steele to the mound for Sport 2. His 3.07 ERA over 24 begins final season made for a formidable tandem with the aforementioned Imanaga, and the 2 will search for comparable success once more in 2025.
Prediction: Cubs and Dodgers break up the two-game sequence in Tokyo. Each pitching matchups are engaging, and since these are regular-season video games, each groups will characteristic their greatest accessible lineups as effectively. The Dodgers could have extra firepower total, however count on the Cubs to strive making an early assertion of their very own as effectively.
