Five Japanese stars are back on home soil as Major Leaguers -- among them Shohei Ohtani, coming off a season for the ages \-\- and the reigning World Series champion Dodgers take the first step in defending their title.

Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts will not play in the two-game Tokyo Series against the Cubs because of an illness that's lingered for the past week.

The Cubs will serve as the home team during both games of the series, and it will be the first two games of seven that these teams play this year. However, since traveling to Japa