The Los Angeles Dodgers kicked off their 2025 season with a resounding 4-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the highly anticipated Tokyo Series. Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto led the way for the Dodgers, who demonstrated their depth and star power on display.
Ohtani, making his first start of the season, went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Yamamoto cruised through five innings of one-run ball, allowing just six hits. The Japanese ace’s splitter was particularly effective, coaxing nine whiffs from Cubs hitters. Yamamoto’s performance set a high standard for the Dodgers’ rotation, which boasts multiple aces.
The Dodgers’ offense, missing stars Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts due to illness and injury, still managed to produce runs thanks to Ohtani’s clutch hitting. The team’s pitching depth was also on full display, with lefty Anthony Banda firing a scoreless sixth inning and rookie Ben Casparius touching 98.5 mph in the seventh.
The Cubs’ early exit of ace Imanaga was a storyline for Game 1, but the Dodgers proved they can overcome any challenge. With Roki Sasaki set to make his MLB debut on Wednesday, the Dodgers continue to showcase their impressive depth and talent.
Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/dodgers-top-cubs-in-game-1-of-the-2025-mlb-season-6-takeaways-from-the-first-matchup-of-the-tokyo-series-152244852.html