The upcoming 2025 MLB Tokyo Series will see the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers open their seasons in Japan, showcasing several talented pitchers, including Cubs' Shota Imanaga and Dodgers' Rōki Sasaki and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Imanaga, with a stellar 2.92 ERA and a 15-3 record in 2024, is expected to pitch in front of his home crowd. Meanwhile, Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts has indicated that Yamamoto will likely start against the Cubs, while Sasaki is anticipated to pitch in an exhibition match before the series.

Notably, Shohei Ohtani will participate but is not set to pitch due to recovery from UCL surgery, complicating his timeline after a shoulder injury last postseason. The series will be a significant event, especially with the Cubs also playing against the Tokyo Giants just prior to facing the Dodgers.