Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shota Imanaga to Start for Dodgers vs. Cubs Season Opener in Japan

Two Japanese stars will start on the mound for their respective teams as they play in their home country on Opening Day.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto will be on the bump for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Shota Imanaga will get the start for the Chicago Cubs on March 18 for Game 1 of the Tokyo Series. According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, Rōki Sasaki, also from Japan, will start Game 2 for Los Angeles.

The trip to Japan will be special for both the Cubs and the Dodgers. Chicago has a pair of stars from Japan in Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki while Los Angeles has Yamamoto, Sasaki and Shohei Ohtani. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was also born in Japan and will have family in attendance, he said.

“This is one of the most exciting Opening Days I’ve ever had — from a player to a coach to a manager — opening up the season in Tokyo," Roberts told reporters. "My aunts, my uncles, my cousins are all gonna be able to see. I love the country of Japan. And obviously, with the three Japanese players that we have, just to see how we are received, I’m very excited about it."

Yamamoto made his MLB debut last season, appearing in 18 games and recording a 3.00 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP on his way to a 7-2 record. Sasaki, one of the most exciting free agents of the offseason, signed with the Dodgers in January and will make his MLB debut in Japan next week.

Ohtani is coming off a tremendous first year with Los Angeles, collecting 54 home runs, 130 RBI and a .310 batting average. He also stole 59 bases in his MVP-winning season.

Imanaga played his first MLB season last year, recording a 15-3 record behind a 2.91 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. Suzuki will play his fourth MLB season in 2025.

The Dodgers and Cubs will play two games in Japan next Tuesday and Wednesday, with both contest starting at 6 a.m. ET.