How to watch Dodgers vs. Cubs for free in 2025 MLB Tokyo Series

The 2025 MLB regular season opens today, and for five players between the Cubs and Dodgers lineups, it’ll be a homecoming.

Defending World Series champs, the Los Angeles Dodgers, will play a two-game series against the Chicago Cubs at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. The Dodgers have three Japanese-born players, including the current National League MVP Shohei Ohtani, while the Cubs have two.

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The games will begin with a historic pitching matchup between Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shota Imanaga; it’s the first time a pair of Japanese pitchers have faced off on Opening Day.

Due to time zones, the game will air in the early morning hours here in the United States, but here’s how you can tune in to the start of a new baseball season for free.

MLB Tokyo series date and time: When do the Dodgers and Cubs play in Toyko?

The Dodgers and Cubs will face off twice at the Tokyo Dome.

• Game 1: Tuesday, March 18 at 6:00 a.m. ET (7:00 p.m. in Japan) – airing on Fox
• Game 2: Wednesday, March 19 at 6:00 a.m. ET (7:00 p.m. in Japan) – airing on Fox Sports 1 (FS1)

How to watch Dodgers-Cubs in the MLB Tokyo Series for free:

The best way to stream without cable is with a free trial of live TV streaming service. Right now, we’re huge fans of Hulu + Live TV, which includes both Fox and FS1 and offers a three-day free trial before $82.99/month payments kick in.

You can also stream both networks with DIRECTV Stream‘s Entertainment plan or MySports genre pack, both of which come with a five-day free trial before payment (from $69.99/month) begins.

Dodgers-Cubs Tokyo Series game 1 pitching matchup:

As noted above, Dodgers RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto will face off against Cubs LHP Shota Imanaga. Yamamoto went 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA in 90 innings during the 2024 campaign, while Imanaga was 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA in 173 1/3 innings

Dodgers-Cubs Tokyo Series game 1 probable lineups:

Los Angeles Dodgers

1. Shohei Ohtani, DH
2. Tommy Edman, 2B
3. Freddie Freeman, 1B
4. Teoscar Hernández, RF
5. Max Muncy, 3B
6. Will Smith, C
7. Michael Conforto, LF
8. Miguel Rojas, SS
9. Andy Pages, CF

Chicago Cubs

1. Ian Happ, LF
2. Kyle Tucker, RF
3. Seiya Suzuki, DH
4. Michael Busch, 1B
5. Dansby Swanson, SS
6. Matt Shaw, 3B
7. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
8. Miguel Amaya, C
9. Jon Berti, 2B

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This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Writer/Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping and New York Post’s streaming property, Decider. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on each streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. Prior to joining Decider and New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews