The buzz already has started to build for the Tokyo Series, which will get the Major League Baseball (MLB) season started a couple of weeks early this year.

A two-game series between the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs is set for March 18-19 at the Tokyo Dome.

It’s the first time a Major League Baseball game has been held there since 2019. The remainder of the teams will get rolling on March 27.

The 2025 Tokyo Series will mark the sixth time that MLB begins its regular season in Japan’s capital and the 25th anniversary of the first regular-season games in the country, which took place in 2000 betwee the Cubs and Mets.

It’s also the second consecutive year that the Dodgers will begin their season in Asia, following last year’s Seoul Series in Korea against the Padres .

The Dodgers and Cubs will play exhibition games before they play each other. On March 15, the Cubs will take on the Hanshin Tigers and the Yomiuri Giants will face the Dodgers. On March 16, the Dodgers will face the Hanshin Tigers and the Yomiuri Giants will take on the Cubs.

Both teams will bring in players who hail from Japan: Shohei Ohtani, Yoshio Bizen and Yoshinobu Yamamoto are all stars on the Dodgers roster and Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga both play for the Cubs.

Fanatics has already jumped in with a mix of merchandise, and there’s more on the way.

More is expected to be released and available on Fanatics on March 7, including series trading cards and a one-of-a-kind collaboration of collectibles and merchandise between the renowned Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami and Major League Baseball (MLB).

Remember, Fanatics offers free shipping. Look for the code when you complete your order.