The 2025 MLB season has kicked off with the Tokyo Series, featuring the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. On March 18, the Dodgers secured a 4-1 victory over the Cubs in the season opener. The game was highlighted by strong pitching, particularly from Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who pitched five innings, and the Dodgers' bullpen, which contributed four no-hit innings. Tanner Scott, who signed a four-year contract with the Dodgers as the top free agent reliever this offseason, closed the game effectively, showcasing his dominant fastball that was the best in baseball last year.
The Dodgers' offense supported their pitching with four runs, including three in the fifth inning and one in the ninth. This win sets a positive tone for the Dodgers as they begin their defense of their World Series title from last season.
Notably, Shohei Ohtani, who had a historic season last year with over 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases, is back with the Dodgers, although he will not pitch until next season.
For the Cubs, Justin Turner, who signed a one-year contract, had a notable appearance, but the team's offense struggled, particularly in the later innings, going 0 for their last 20 at-bats with seven strikeouts from the start of the third inning.
The Tokyo Series continues on March 19 with another matchup between the Dodgers and the Cubs, with Roki Sasaki set to make his major league debut for the Dodgers in front of another packed house at the Tokyo Dome.
In other recent developments, the Detroit Tigers had a remarkable turnaround last season after a series of trades at the July 30 trading deadline. Despite trading away key players, the Tigers became one of the hottest teams in baseball, winning 31 of their next 43 games and clinching the last wild card spot. However, they ultimately lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Cleveland Guardians.
Off the field, there have been no major rule changes or league announcements recently, but the Tokyo Series has included various fan events and activations around Tokyo, such as the ZeroBase Activations and the Topps Pop-Up at Miyashita Park.
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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
