MESA, Ariz. -- Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga said Wednesday he was "very honored" to receive the Opening Day start against the Los Angeles Dodgers when the teams meet March 18 in Tokyo.
It is the first of two games between the Cubs and Dodgers in Tokyo.
The Dodgers will counter with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, marking the first time two Japan-born pitchers have started against each other in a major league regular-season game in their home country.
"The reason that Japanese players are getting a lot of attention is because of all the players in the past that came before us who created this path for all the Japanese players," Imanaga said through an interpreter.