Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki are the likely starting pitchers for the Los Angeles Dodgers when they face the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo next month, according to manager Dave Roberts

Japanese pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki are expected to start for the Los Angeles Dodgers in season openers at Tokyo next month, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Wednesday.

It has already been announced that the pitching matchup for the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day game will feature Shota Imanaga and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The pitching matchup for the second game of the series is now all but set.

Spring training is underway for the Boys in Blue, and the anticipation of the 2025 season is at an all-time high after a historic off-season, acquiring the likes of Japanese Phenom pitcher Roki Sasaki,

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has plenty of options to choose from when determining who will start in Tokyo when they play the Cubs, including two Japan natives.

An earlier start date means players who are rehabbing from injury could miss Opening Day, and Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts is a little worried about having two of his pitchers ready for Tokyo. USA Today's Bob Nightengale states,

The right-hander was on the mound for the opening of MLB's spring-training slate and could very well pitch in the first game of the regular season, as manager Dave Roberts said last week that he expects Yamamoto to start one of the Dodgers' two games against Chicago in Tokyo,

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday on MLB Network that he expects Yamamoto to pitch during the March 18-19 series versus the Cubs in Tokyo. Roberts anticipates Yamamoto's countryman, Roki Sasaki,

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts targeted March 18th as the return date for reigning MVP Shohei Ohtani.

With the Tokyo Series less than one month away, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki are the expected starters against the Chicago Cubs.

And as if beautiful weather, the largest Japanese population outside of Japan and a loaded roster weren't a competitive advantage enough, Dave Roberts made clear on Wednesday that Los Angeles wants to make sure no one from the country will even think about playing anywhere else.

Reigning World Series MVP Freddie Freeman tested his surgically repaired right ankle on the field for the first time this spring Thursday, and reports were positive. “He ran yesterday, came into today feeling good,