TOKYO, JAPAN — In a landmark series that bridged the Pacific Ocean and brought Major League Baseball to the heart of Japan, the Los Angeles Dodgers flexed their offensive muscle in a dominant three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs at the Tokyo Dome. Headlined by Shohei Ohtani’s highly anticipated return to his homeland, the Dodgers’ high-octane offense proved too much for the Cubs, as the series turned into a showcase for one of the most explosive lineups in baseball.
Ohtani, the two-way phenom whose offseason signing with the Dodgers made headlines worldwide, delivered in dramatic fashion. In Game 2, with the eyes of an entire nation on him, Ohtani crushed a towering solo home run to right-center field, igniting a deafening roar from the sold-out crowd and further cementing his status as a transcendent international superstar.
But this series was about more than just one swing. It was about a statement from a Dodgers team loaded with talent, intent on proving that 2025 could be their year. Over three days in Tokyo, the Dodgers delivered an emphatic message: they’re not just good—they’re terrifying.
Game 1: Setting the Tone – Dodgers 8, Cubs 3
From the first pitch of the series, the Dodgers made it clear they were there to handle business. Mookie Betts led off with a double off Cubs starter Jameson Taillon, and the floodgates opened soon after. Freddie Freeman followed with a sharp single to right, scoring Betts and giving the Dodgers a lead they would never relinquish.
The heart of the Dodgers’ order—Freeman, Ohtani, Will Smith, and Max Muncy—combined for seven hits and six RBIs. Smith doubled in two runs in the third inning, and Muncy followed with a 428-foot blast to dead center, extending the lead to 5-1.
Clayton Kershaw, still grinding back from offseason shoulder surgery, took the mound and gave the Dodgers four solid innings. While he’s no longer the workhorse of old, the veteran southpaw navigated a tough Cubs lineup with guile and precision, allowing just two earned runs.
Relievers Ryan Brasier, Joe Kelly, and Evan Phillips closed the door with five innings of one-run ball, and the Dodgers took Game 1 with a convincing 8-3 win.
Game 2: Ohtani’s Moment – Dodgers 5, Cubs 2
There are moments that transcend the game itself, and Shohei Ohtani’s solo homer in the fourth inning of Game 2 was one of them.
The Tokyo Dome was vibrating with anticipation as Ohtani stepped to the plate in the bottom of the fourth. Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks tried to sneak a cutter past Ohtani on a 2-1 count. Big mistake. Ohtani turned on the pitch with a textbook swing, launching it 430 feet into the sea of fans beyond the right-field wall.
Ohtani rounded the bases with a calm smile, tipping his helmet to the cheering crowd. The home run, his first as a Dodger and his first in Japan since leaving Nippon Professional Baseball in 2017, sent shockwaves through the sport.
“It felt surreal,” Ohtani said through a translator after the game. “To do this in front of my family, my friends, and fans who supported me from the beginning—it’s something I’ll never forget.”
The Dodgers used the momentum to pour on four more runs, with Betts delivering a two-RBI double in the sixth and Freeman adding a sac fly. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, also making a return to his home country, struck out eight in five innings of two-run ball. His composure on the mound and command of his devastating splitter left Cubs hitters guessing all night.
Game 3: A Statement Finish – Dodgers 9, Cubs 4
With the series already won, the Dodgers came into Game 3 looking to complete the sweep—and did so in emphatic fashion.
The offensive onslaught was relentless. Gavin Lux, often overshadowed by the star-studded lineup around him, led the charge with a 3-for-4 day, including a two-run triple in the second inning. Chris Taylor and James Outman each chipped in with RBI doubles, and the Dodgers took a 6-0 lead by the fourth inning.
Ohtani didn’t homer in this game, but he did double twice and drew two walks, reaching base four times. Freeman drove in another two runs, finishing the series with six RBIs, while Betts added a pair of hits and a diving defensive gem at second base.
Bobby Miller got the start and showed why he’s viewed as the next ace in the making for L.A. He struck out nine in six innings, allowing just two runs while showcasing a high-octane fastball and a nasty slider that left Cubs hitters flailing.
Even as the Cubs mounted a brief rally in the seventh, cutting the lead to 7-4, the Dodgers responded with two more runs in the top of the eighth to squash any hopes of a comeback.
When the final out was recorded, the Dodgers poured out of the dugout to celebrate the sweep. Fans in Tokyo showered both teams with appreciation, but it was the Dodgers who walked away with momentum—and a warning sent to the rest of Major League Baseball.
Offensive Domination
Over three games, the Dodgers scored 22 runs on 31 hits, with every starter contributing. The lineup’s depth was on full display. From the leadoff prowess of Betts, to Freeman’s consistency, to Ohtani’s flair, to the power of Muncy and Smith, there are no easy outs in this lineup.
Ohtani went 5-for-11 with a home run, three doubles, and four walks, reaching base at a .615 clip in the series. Freeman batted .462 with a homer and six RBIs, while Betts set the table with five runs scored and three stolen bases.
Even the bottom of the order did damage. Lux, Outman, and Miguel Rojas combined for nine hits and seven RBIs. It was a complete offensive effort that left Cubs pitchers gassed and Dodgers fans dreaming of October glory.
Yamamoto and Miller Shine
The two Japanese arms in the Dodgers’ rotation—Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Bobby Miller—showed why many consider L.A.’s staff to be the deepest in the league.
Yamamoto, pitching in front of his home crowd for the first time in a Dodgers uniform, was electric. His fastball reached 96 mph, and his splitter was devastating. He pounded the zone, allowed just four hits, and left to a standing ovation.
Miller, meanwhile, showed maturity beyond his years. With Kershaw still ramping up and Walker Buehler’s return not yet finalized, Miller is asserting himself as the linchpin of this rotation.
“Both of those guys were lights out,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s a luxury to have that kind of talent and poise so early in the season.”
A Cultural Homecoming
This series was about more than just baseball—it was a cultural homecoming for Ohtani and Yamamoto, and a celebration of the growing global reach of MLB.
The Tokyo Dome was packed to the rafters each night, with sellout crowds of over 45,000. Japanese fans embraced the Dodgers like a hometown team, waving banners, chanting Ohtani’s name, and treating each moment with reverence.
Before Game 1, Ohtani met with local youth players, signing autographs and speaking about the importance of dreaming big. Yamamoto, who starred for the Orix Buffaloes before signing a $325 million deal with L.A., was honored by his former team in a pregame ceremony.
“It was emotional,” Yamamoto said. “To pitch here again, in this uniform, it means everything to me.”
MLB officials deemed the Tokyo Series a massive success, with Commissioner Rob Manfred indicating that similar series could become a staple of future seasons.
The Cubs’ Takeaway
For the Cubs, the series was a harsh reality check. Their pitching faltered under the pressure of the Dodgers’ relentless attack, and their offense struggled to keep pace.
Dansby Swanson and Cody Bellinger provided a few highlights, including back-to-back home runs in Game 3, but Chicago was simply outclassed. Manager Craig Counsell emphasized the long season ahead, calling the series “a learning opportunity.”
“They’re the standard right now,” Counsell said of the Dodgers. “We’ve got work to do.”
What’s Next for the Dodgers?
With the Tokyo sweep behind them, the Dodgers will return stateside riding a wave of momentum. Their next challenge will be their home opener at Dodger Stadium, where they’ll face the San Diego Padres in a series loaded with divisional implications.
Ohtani, Freeman, and Betts will continue to draw headlines, but it’s the team’s cohesion and depth that will define their journey.
This isn’t just a star-studded team on paper—it’s a juggernaut in motion.
Final Thoughts
Baseball fans in Japan witnessed something special this week. Shohei Ohtani’s majestic home run. Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s mastery on the mound. The collective force of the Dodgers lineup steamrolling one of the NL’s most competitive teams.
It was part spectacle, part statement—and all Dodgers.
As April rolls forward and the long grind of the MLB season begins in earnest, one thing is clear: the Los Angeles Dodgers aren’t just contenders.