GLENDALE, Arizona (Kyodo) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers' new right-hander Roki Sasaki will start Game 2 of the two-game, MLB season-opening series against the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome, skipper Dave Roberts said Tuesday.

The news arrived on the day the Japanese flamethrower tossed four shutout innings in his first spring training start, striking out two while allowing a single hit in a strong 41-pitch outing as the Dodgers took a 10-4 win over the Cleveland Guardians in Glendale, Arizona.

"I'm very excited as I've been working to do well here and to open (the season) in Tokyo is special, " Sasaki said. "I believe it's something that doesn't happen often. I'm happy I've been injury-free so far."

His compatriot Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who went 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA in his first MLB season in 2024, will start against the Cubs on Opening Day on March 18 before former Lotte Marine Sasaki takes the mound in the Japanese capital a day later for last year's World Series winner.

Reigning National League MVP and two-way star Shohei Ohtani will solely be batting for the series.

The 23-year-old Sasaki threw three shutout innings in his spring training debut on March 4 when he fanned five and gave up two hits with a walk in a 46-pitch effort against the Cincinnati Reds.

"It was positive I was able to throw innings," Sasaki said after his latest outing. "There were things that didn't go as well as last time. It's positive that those bad points surfaced before the start of the season."

"I sense I can keep my opposition at bay if I can get my forkballs right. I also sense I can be on top of them (with fastballs) when there's velocity, so my priority is to give the best I can."