He faced a staunch Team USA lineup, with Dodgers star Mookie Betts in the leadoff spot. Plenty of MLB teams were paying attention when Imanaga took the ball, anticipating his move to MLB. The Cubs were one of them.

Last year, the Padres and Dodgers got the MLB regular season started early with two games in South Korea. This year, it’s the Cubs and Dodgers kicking things off the week before league-wide Opening Day.

It's only two games to start the Major League Baseball season — the World Series-champion Dodgers against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Tokyo Dome.

The Hanshin Tigers capped a two-game sweep over MLB clubs with a 3-0 win over the Dodgers, following a matching victory over the Cubs the day before.

Behind a superb start from Hiroto Saiki, the Hanshin Tigers didn't give up a hit until the fifth inning and defeated the Dodgers 3-0 at the Tokyo Dome.

The Chicago Cubs began their first of two exhibition games in Japan by losing 3-0 to the Hanshin Tigers. Offensively, the Cubs were held without a hit until the sixth inning and finished with just three in the contest.