It was revealed on the 19th that the average household viewership rating for the 2025 MLB Opening Game "Cubs vs Dodgers" (7:00pm) broadcast on Nippon TV Network on the 18th was 31.2%. The individual overall viewership rating was 19.9%. The highest household viewership rating was 35.7%, recorded at 8:25 and 8:26pm.

On this day, Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers started as leadoff hitter and designated hitter. His multi-hitting performance led his team to a 4-1 come-from-behind victory. Yoshinobu Yamamoto started for the Dodgers and Shota Imanaga started for the Cubs, marking the first time in major league history that Japanese pitchers started each other in the opening game. Yamamoto pitched well, allowing only three hits and one run in five innings, to earn the opening win. Including Seiya Suzuki of the Cubs, four Japanese players excited the Tokyo Dome. (Figures from Video Research Daily, Kanto region)