The 2025 Major League Baseball season is officially in full swing, with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs kicking things off in style in the Tokyo Series.
With Japanese stars Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shota Imanaga taking the hill in front of a sold-out crowd at the Tokyo Dome, the defending World Series champions set the tone early, securing a 4-1 victory in the season opener.
Reigning NL MVP Shohei Ohtani wasted no time making an impact, recording a single, a double, and scoring twice to fuel the Dodgers' offense. Meanwhile, Yamamoto delivered a strong outing, surrendering just one run on three hits over five innings, while striking out four to notch his first win of the season. In his Dodgers debut, Tanner Scott—who inked a $72 million deal this offseason—slammed the door in the ninth to pick up the save.
The two clubs are set to square off again on Wednesday, with Roki Sasaki making his highly anticipated MLB debut for Los Angeles, while Chicago counters with left-hander Justin Steele. First pitch is scheduled for 6 am ET as the Tokyo Series wraps up.
Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch Chicago Cubs vs Los Angeles Dodgers MLB game, plus plenty more.
How to watch Chicago Cubs vs Los Angeles Dodgers on TV & stream live online
National TV channel: FS1
Streaming service: Fubo
To watch the entire MLB season, Fubo and DirecTV Stream are the two best streaming services for baseball fans. Both carry MLB.tv for out-of-market access to games and you can also check out our table below for information on regional sports networks and where to find them.
READ MORE:FuboTV Review: Pricing, plans, subscriptions, free trials and more
Team | Local Network | Streaming Providers |
|---|---|---|
Arizona Diamondbacks | DBACKS.tv | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
Atlanta Braves | Bally Sports South | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
Baltimore Orioles | Mid-Atlantic Sports Network | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
Boston Red Sox | New England Sports Network | Fubo, DirecTV Stream, NESN 360 |
Chicago Cubs | Marquee Sports Network | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
Chicago White Sox | NBC Sports Chicago | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
Cincinnati Reds | Bally Sports Ohio | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
Cleveland Guardians | Bally Sports Great Lakes | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
Colorado Rockies | ROCKIES.tv | DirecTV Stream |
Detroit Tigers | Bally Sports Detroit | Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Bally Sports+ |
Houston Astros | Space City Home Network | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
Kansas City Royals | Bally Sports Kansas City | Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Bally Sports+ |
Los Angeles Angels | Bally Sports West | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
Los Angeles Dodgers | SportsNet Los Angeles | DirecTV Stream |
Miami Marlins | Bally Sports Florida | Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Bally Sports+ |
Milwaukee Brewers | Bally Sports Wisconsin | Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Bally Sports+ |
Minnesota Twins | Bally Sports North | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
New York Mets | SportsNet New York | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
New York Yankees | YES Network | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
Oakland Athletics | NBC Sports California | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
Philadelphia Phillies | NBC Sports Philadelphia | Fubo |
Pittsburgh Pirates | SportsNet Pittsburgh | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
San Diego Padres | Padres.TV | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
San Francisco Giants | NBC Sports Bay Area | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
Seattle Mariners | ROOT Sports | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
St Louis Cardinals | Bally Sports Midwest | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
Tampa Bay Rays | Bally Sports Sun | Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Bally Sports+ |
Texas Rangers | Bally Sports Southwest | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
Toronto Blue Jays | Sportnet (Canada) | N/A |
Washington Nationals | Mid-Atlantic Sports Network | Fubo, DirecTV Stream |
Los Angeles Dodgers: Date and First-Pitch time
The Chicago Cubs will battle with the Los Angeles Dodgers in an electrifying MLB game on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 6:10 am ET/3:10 am PT at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan.
Date | Wednesday, March 19 |
First-Pitch Time | 6:10 am ET/3:10 am PT |
Venue | Tokyo Dome |
Location | Tokyo, Japan |
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Chicago Cubs vs Los Angeles Dodgers team news
Chicago Cubs team news
Chicago was active in the winter market, pulling off a blockbuster trade with Houston to land star outfielder Kyle Tucker and lockdown closer Ryan Pressly, signaling their intent to compete.
On Wednesday, Justin Steele is set to take the hill for the Dodgers. He has quietly established himself as one of the most dependable left-handed starters in MLB. The 29-year-old was originally drafted by Chicago in the fifth round of the 2014 MLB Draft and has steadily risen through the ranks. Though he handled Opening Day duties for the Cubs last year, he willingly ceded the role to Shota Imanaga for this season’s Tokyo Series. Steele broke out in 2023, earning an All-Star nod and finishing fifth in NL Cy Young voting. Despite missing time due to injury in 2024, the southpaw remained effective, with his underlying numbers mirroring his previous strong campaign.
On the Cubs' side, Nico Hoerner remained stateside as he works his way back from right flexor tendon surgery, which he underwent in October. His rehab extended into Spring Training, and with Chicago traveling to Japan, he stayed in Arizona to log game reps. The team's target is for him to return in time for their March 27 matchup against Arizona. Right-hander Javier Assad is also on the mend—he’s throwing again but remains on the 15-day injured list due to a left oblique strain.
Los Angeles Dodgers team news
Los Angeles made a splash by securing Japan's premier pitching talent Roki Sasaki, alongside two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell. Additionally, they reinforced their bullpen with the acquisitions of Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates, ensuring their championship-caliber roster remains formidable.
Roki Sasakigets the nod for the Dodgers. He entered free agency as one of the most coveted pitchers on the market following an outstanding four-year stint with the Chiba Lotte Marines in NPB. The electric right-hander posted a 10-5 record with a 2.35 ERA across 111 innings in 2024, further solidifying his reputation as a dominant force on the mound. His arrival at Dodgers camp this spring generated significant buzz, with fans and analysts eager to see how his elite repertoire would translate against Major League hitters for the first time.
Freddie Freeman was a late scratch from the Dodgers' Opening Day lineup due to left rib discomfort, but the star first baseman believes there's about a 75% chance he'll be back in action for Game 2 of the Tokyo Series. Meanwhile, Mookie Betts made an early exit from Japan as he continues recovering from a non-contagious illness that surfaced late in Spring Training. Though he won’t suit up for the series overseas, the expectation is that he'll be ready when Los Angeles kicks off its domestic schedule on March 27.
Chicago Cubs vs Los Angeles Dodgers head-to-head record
Date | Competition | Home Team | Away Team | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
02/22/25 | ST | Chicago Cubs | Los Angeles Dodgers | 7-3 |
02/21/25 | ST | Los Angeles Dodgers | Chicago Cubs | 4-12 |
09/12/24 | MLB | Los Angeles Dodgers | Chicago Cubs | 10-8 |
09/11/24 | MLB | Los Angeles Dodgers | Chicago Cubs | 3-6 |
09/10/24 | MLB | Los Angeles Dodgers | Chicago Cubs | 4-10 |