Fantasy Baseball Takeaways from Tokyo Series: Shohei Ohtani, Shota Imanaga, Will Smith, Jon Berti, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and More

The MLB regular season is underway… and now it's back on hold for another week or so.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs played a two-game Tokyo Series, and I'm here to identify some fantasy baseball takeaways from the two games. Let's get right to it!

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The Games/Top Fantasy Performers

In the first game of the season, LA earned a 4-1 win.

Shohei Ohtani had two hits and runs scored to power the Dodgers. Will Smith had a hit, three walks and an RBI, while Max Muncy and Andy Pages each walked twice - Pages also scored once. Teoscar Hernandez had a hit, walk, RBI and run scored.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto earned the win after working five innings. He struck out four batters and allowed a run on three hits and a walk. Tanner Scott earned the save, striking out a batter along the way.

Shota Imanaga started for Chicago, working four hitless innings. He struck out two, but did walk four batters. Ben Brown was the losing pitcher after allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks over 2 2/3 innings - he did strike out five batters.

Ian Happ had a hit and a walk for the Cubs. Dansby Swanson had a hit and run scored.

In game two, the Dodgers earned a 6-3 win.

Ohtani, Enrique Hernandez and Tommy Edman all homered for LA. Smith scored twice after having a hit and two walks. Ohtani also walked twice. Michael Conforto and Pages had a hit and walk each. 

Roki Sasaki started and worked three innings, allowing a run on five walks and one hit. He struck out three. 

Landon Knack got the win after working two scoreless innings, striking out three along the way. Alex Vesia got the save, working around a hit and walk and striking out one. 

Justin Steele was rocked for five runs on five hits and a walk over four innings. He did record five strikeouts at least.

Happ, Swanson and Kyle Tucker had a hit, walk and RBI for Chicago. Jon Berti had three hits, a stolen base and a run scored. Carson Kelly had a hit, walk and run scored.

Fantasy Takeaways

Dodgers

You shouldn't be surprised to see the Dodgers win both games, but it's a bit of a surprise to not have mentioned Mookie Betts or Freddie Freeman. Both players missed the opening series with ailments.

That just speaks to how ridiculous this Dodgers' team is. They can overcome several injuries because of their stacked lineup. They are my pick to win it all this season, and really, the single-season record of 116 wins should be broken by them. At worst, they should at least split every series this season.

Ohtani showed why he is the No. 1 draft pick in most leagues this season. Even if he doesn't pitch all season, he's got a great chance of being the top fantasy player in the league.

Smith was going a bit too early in fantasy drafts for my liking, but he had a fantastic two-game series. Things could be different for him when Betts and Freeman join the party, but Smith could challenge for the top fantasy catcher spot if he plays enough.

Edman showed a bit of why I like the idea of drafting him late in standard league drafts this year. He was pretty good in his limited time with the team last season, and is a fantastic sleeper option for 2025.

Enrique Hernandez might not play as much when Freeman and Betts are active, so I wouldn't overreact to his fantasy numbers in these two games. The same could be said for Pages, although he's got a clearer path to playing time.

Teoscar Hernandez didn't have a huge series, but I am expecting big things from him when the team gets back to full strength. Muncy isn't quite at the level as Hernandez, but I do think he's being slept on going into the season.

Yamamoto looked pretty good in his start, and should headline the rotation when he starts getting in full starts. Sasaki's five walks are a bit concerning, but I'm not going to overreact to one start from a 23-year-old making his MLB debut.

Scott looks like he'll be the team's preferred closer, but I still think things will be more of a committee throughout the season. Scott will lead the way, but the shifting in closers used will not make any of them great standard league options.

Cubs

For Chicago, Imanaga's walks are also a concern, but they were not a problem in 2024, so I'll chalk that up to nerves pitching in Tokyo. He should headline the Cubs' starting rotation, and I think he's undervalued as a fantasy asset as 2025 begins.

Steele getting roughed up in his first start is not ideal, but again, I'm not that concerned. He was facing the best lineup in the MLB after all.

Berti is not a huge fantasy asset, but his first series is going to catch the attention of a lot of people. I'd temper my expectations, but definitely keep tabs on him in case he thrives near the bottom of the team's lineup.

Tucker is going to be the team's best fantasy hitter, so it was nice to see him produce a bit. As he settles into his new home, I think Tucker will live up to the first-round fantasy draft hype he has.

Swanson is a late-round fantasy draft option in standard leagues, but had a promising start to the season. It's just two games again, but even at a stacked position, Swanson could become a daily starter. He's been that kind of fantasy player in the past, and could have a good fantasy season in 2025.

I don't think Kelly will continue to split playing time with Miguel Amaya, but that's something to keep tabs on. If they do split time this season, they'll top out as deep-league fantasy options.

Happ is also expected to be a daily starter in all fantasy leagues. He's not the most consistent player on a day-to-day basis, but his season-long numbers are always pretty solid.

Seiya Suzuki didn't do much in the first two games, but it's far too early to panic. He should be another daily starting option. 

Pete Crow-Armstrong is a better deep-league option to start the season, and his four punchouts in two games show why. Matt Shaw is a heralded prospect, but he also struck out four times in these two games. Both should be regular parts of the starting lineup, and could become standard league daily options throughout the season, so don't forget about them just because of two down showings.

Michael Busch had six plate appearances to just one for Justin Turner. That's a projected platoon at first base, making Busch the better fantasy option to start the season. He might fall short of standard league fantasy value if Turner starts against lefties though.

Ryan Pressly should be the team's preferred closer. He worked a scoreless inning, but also walked three batters. Porter Hodge is waiting there as the current top setup man and could replace Pressly as the closer if he struggles at all this season.

Final Thoughts

The first two games of the season shouldn't have a massive impact on fantasy values over the course of the season. It's nice to see some fantasy starting hitters get going early, while pitchers weren't really in true season form. 

Don't let the results alter your mindset if you have yet to draft your fantasy team. It's noteworthy that these two teams will only have 160 games the rest of the way though, as a couple games difference could change what hitters you take.

Pitchers won't be too affected, as the guys who started these two games will also be likely to pitch the first couple games when the rest of the MLB gets into regular season play on March 27.

Keep checking back with FantasySP all season for the latest regarding fantasy baseball!