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But the Japanese players who were playing in front of their home country at the Tokyo Dome on Tuesday handled any jitters they had quite well, delivering in clutch moments as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs, 4-1, in Major League Baseball’s season opener.

The Major League Baseball season kicks off Tuesday night at the Tokyo Dome when Shohei Ohtani and the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers face the Chicago Cubs.

The Tokyo Series opening day was more like a cultural moment. The post Dodgers’ $140M Star Showers Japan With Utmost Praise, Calls It ‘Home’ After Tokyo Series Triumph appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts will miss both games of the upcoming Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs because of illness, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has announced. However, Betts is expected to recover in time to play in the Dodgers' stateside opener against the Detroit Tigers on March 27.

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts has been ruled out of the two-game Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs because of an illness, manager Dave Roberts said Monday. Per Roberts, Betts has lost "close to 15 pounds" due to the illness.