14-02-2025
Japanese Stars Yamamoto, Sasaki Set to Start Dodgers' Tokyo Series
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, top reliever Tanner Scott, two-time Cy-Young winner Blake Snell, and many more notable acquisitions. Manager Dave Roberts spoke to the media at Camelback Ranch on Wednesday. He hinted that Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki could get the nod to pitch in the two games in Japan against the Chicago Cubs are sending fellow countrymen Shoto Imanaga to battle it out with Yamamoto in game one and have themselves a star-studded Japanese showcase in Tokyo. "The expectation is for both those guys to pitch," Roberts said on MLB Network. He also remarked that the team fully expects Yamamato to toe the rubber on March 18 while having a newcomer, Sasaki, follow suit on March 19. Shohei Ohtani is also expected to not pitch in the Tokyo Series but is fully eligible to DH and is expected to begin his full pitching regimen in also does not expect both starters to throw the usual starter length in those two games, so newcomer relievers from the offseason are expected to make their season debut in Tokyo. After the two-game set in Tokyo, the Dodgers return to the States and will host the Detroit Tigers in a three-game series at Dodger Stadium from March 27-29.
