Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (3/18/25): Dodgers 4, Cubs 1 – Offense Stifled in Tokyo Opener

The Cubs began the 2025 MLB season in Tokyo against the best team in baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Chicago took an early lead but the defending champions went ahead for good in the 5th inning. Their pitching dominated from there, cruising to a win.

Shōta Imanaga pitched well in his first start of the season, working around four uncharacteristic walks to keep LA off the scoreboard for the first four innings. The North Siders rallied to take the lead on ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the bottom of the 2nd inning as Dansby Swanson singled and came around to score on a double by Miguel Amaya.

Ben Brown came on in relief of Imanaga in the 5th and the Dodgers tied the game on an RBI single by Tommy Edman. Teoscar Hernandez then hit a ground ball to Swanson at shortstop with two on and one out, and second baseman Jon Berti made an ill-advised throw to first attempting a double play. The throw went high and over the head of Michael Busch, allowing the go-ahead run to score. Will Smith followed with a single to increase the margin to 3-1.

Cubs hitters did nothing the rest of the game with only a hit-by-pitch after the 3rd inning. Shohei Ohtani doubled in the 9th and came home on a single by Hernandez for Los Angeles’ fourth run. (Box score)

Key Moment

A walk and some sloppy defense spelled doom for Chicago in the 5th inning. There’s no room for error against a team like the Dodgers.

Why the Cubs Lost

The offense didn’t do much of anything all day long against a great starting pitcher and a loaded bullpen.

Stats That Matter

• Imanaga’s walks might have cost him an additional inning but he still had a solid outing: 4 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 K, and 4 BB.
• Ian Happ singled, walked, and was the only Cub that reached base more than once in Tuesday’s contest.

Bottom Line

A team has to be almost perfect to beat the Dodgers right now and Chicago couldn’t do that in this one. There were too many walks and defensive mistakes to get away with it. That’s something they must improve going into tomorrow’s series finale.

On Deck

Game two of the series is Wednesday at 5:10am CT. Justin Steele faces off against Roki Sasaki in a game available on FS1, Marquee, and 670 The Score.