The Chicago Cubs’ start to the 2025 season will be a bit different than in years past. On March 18 and 19, they will square off against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the next edition of the Tokoyo Series. The Dodgers played in the series a season ago when they took on the San Diego Padres, and their international following made them an easy choice to return for 2025.
Due to their season starting earlier, pitchers and catchers officially reported for the Cubs on Sunday. Manager Craig Counsell was the first person to check in to the team facility to get the ball rolling and the workouts took up most of the day.
Plenty of decisions need to be made by Counsell’s staff in Spring Training this year, and some more help could be on the way depending on how the free agent market shakes out. An early verdict from the skipper on one of his starters for the Japan series was announced on Monday, and it truly was a no-brainer.
Shota Imanaga will start a game in Japan for the Chicago Cubs
On Monday, Counsell told the media that Shota Imanaga will start one of the two games in Tokoyo against the Dodgers. With Imanaga dominating in his first MLB season a year ago, this announcement isn’t a shocking decision. However, a strong confirmation from Counsell this early into Spring Training is a good sign for the pitching staff moving forward.
Shota Imanaga will start one of the #TokyoSeries games per @Cubs manager Craig Counsell. 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/lLBSN5gzLE
— MLB (@MLB) February 10, 2025
For Imanaga, this is an opportunity to pitch in his home country which is surely a massive honor. Seiya Suzuki is the other rostered Cub who will be returning to his home country to begin the 2025 season, with Los Angeles having three countrymen (Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki) who will be doing the same.
Based on how the rotation should shape out to begin the year, Justin Steele is the likely candidate to join Imanaga as the other Chicago starter overseas barring any injury problems. The Cubs will have their backs against the wall in this series dealing with baseball’s juggernaut, but the series will be extremely exciting for the league as a whole.
This is another big year with the Chicago Cubs for Shota Imanaga
The first year of big league action for Imanaga was one for fans to remember for a long time. The left-hander made 29 starts and put the baseball world on notice with his numbers. Imanaga finished the season with a 15-3 record and a 2.91 ERA.
His WHIP hovered just above one at a 1.02 mark in 173.1 innings tossed. If it wasn’t for Paul Skenes and Jackson Merrill having unreal rookie seasons, Imanaga would have been a very suitable candidate for National League Rookie of the Year.
With his second season in the show approaching, the pressure in Chicago remains on Imanaga to be as impressive as he was last season. With the exception of Matthew Boyd, the team has put most of their focus on the bullpen this offseason when adding arms.
Steele and Imanaga will have to be the horses in this rotation because of the bullpen focus, but the starting staff being last year’s strong suit should be a confidence builder entering the 2025 campaign. If the bullpen can be more consistent late in games this season, the rotation won’t need to do as much and go as late into games as in the past.
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