MESA, Arizona – On Wednesday, Shota Imanaga, the left-handed pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, expressed his excitement over being given the nod for the opening day start against the Los Angeles Dodgers, scheduled for March 18 in Tokyo.

This matchup marks the first of two games that will feature the Cubs and Dodgers in the Japanese capital.

The Dodgers are set to counter with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, which will unveil a historic moment as it will be the first time in Major League Baseball that two pitchers born in Japan will compete against each other in a regular-season game within their home country.

Imanaga reflected on the significance of this opportunity, noting, “The attention that Japanese players are receiving stems from the legacy of those who paved the way for us.” He continued through an interpreter, saying, “We are building on their histories.”

After a stellar rookie season, Imanaga garnered a record of 15 wins and 3 losses, boasting a 2.91 ERA while recording 174 strikeouts over 173 1/3 innings.

On the other side, Yamamoto, who was signed by the Dodgers last December for an impressive 10-year, $325 million deal, concluded his rookie campaign with a 7-2 record, a 3.00 ERA, and 105 strikeouts in 90 innings pitched. His season was somewhat hindered as he spent nearly three months on the injured list due to a throwing arm issue.

Cubs president of baseball operations, Jed Hoyer, shared his thoughts on the event, stating on Tuesday after Imanaga’s starting role was confirmed, “The global interest from fans is going to be tremendously high. This is a remarkable moment not just for the players but for the sport itself. What could be better than having these two athletes facing off in the opening game?”