For the first time in almost four months, an MLB game will be played on February 20. The first day of Cactus League action commences on the 20th, as the Cubs and Dodgers — the two participants in the Tokyo Series — will face each other at Camelback Ranch.
A Look at the Cubs
Shota Imanaga won’t start on February 20 — but he will on March 18 when the regular season begins. The Cubs officially named the left-hander the team’s Opening Day starter, giving Imanaga a chance to pitch in his home country once more.
But besides that, it’ll give the Cubs a chance to matchup against the Dodgers’ left-handed bats of Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Max Muncy if he gets the Opening Day nod. It’s worth noting that Ohtani’s .867 OPS against lefties was significantly lower than the 1.128 OPS he racked up against righties.
As for now, the Cubs will trot out Cody Poteet, acquired in the Cody Bellinger trade this past winter, to start Chicago’s Cactus League action.
Poteet likely won’t crack the Cubs’ rotation, unless injury arises. However, his five-pitch mix makes him an interesting bullpen option. He does have one option left.
Thanks to numerous offseason pickups, the Cubs’ lineup is mostly set. However, who plays at third for the Cubs on Opening Day remains to be seen.
A Look at the Dodgers
The Dodgers will give Yoshinobu Yamamoto the start on February 20. Yamamoto, per manager Dave Roberts, will likely be one of the Dodgers’ two starters in Tokyo, alongside Roki Sasaki.
“I think it’s fair to say that Yamamoto’s gonna pitch that first one,” Roberts said earlier this month on his plans for Opening Day in Japan.
Sasaki, one of our 20 non-roster invitees to watch, is also expected to pitch in Tokyo but is also contingent on how his spring goes, per the Dodgers’ manager.
Unlike in 2024, when the Dodgers came into the year with a depleted rotation and throwing issues with Gavin Lux, there are fewer questions surrounding the World Series champions.
The Dodgers are set to have a deep rotation, one that may very well be a five-man group until May. Mookie Betts is now the team’s full-time shortstop, with Korean import Hyeseong Kim, signed in January, poised to bring his defensive prowess to second base in L.A.
If anything, the key goal for the Dodgers this spring is simple: stay healthy. That’s easier said than done.
Make sure to check out our streaming guide for the 2025 MLB season.