Report: Cubs to open 2025 regular season in Japan vs. Dodgers

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The Chicago Cubs will have quite a road trip to open their 2025 season.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported Sunday morning that the Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers have been told privately they’ve been selected to open the 2025 MLB regular season against each other in Tokyo.

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According to the report, the Cubs would return to their spring training home in Mesa, Ariz., after the series, then open the “domestic” portion of their 2025 schedule on the West Coast before returning to Chicago for the home opener.

Meanwhile, it’ll be the second season in a row the Dodgers have opened with an international series. They split the two-game Seoul Series in South Korea against the San Diego Padres to begin this season.

The Dodgers will carry massive interest in Japan considering they feature Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani and rookie pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, also from Japan, on their roster.

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As for this season, the Cubs open their schedule on the road Thursday night against the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers. The homer opener is Monday afternoon, April 1, against the Colorado Rockies.

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