The 15th game of the series between the Saitama Seibu Lions and Fukuoka Softbank will be held at Belluna Dome on July 24th at 6 PM. This is the last three-game series before the All-Star break. How will the Saitama Seibu Lions, who are trailing the league leaders Fukuoka Softbank by 4.5 games, perform?

[Head-to-head record] Saitama Seibu Lions (2nd place) vs. Fukuoka Softbank (1st place): 8 wins, 6 losses

[Announced Starting Pitcher]
Saitama Seibu Lions: Yutaro Watanabe pitcher 14 games, 4 wins, 5 losses, 3.28 ERA
Fukuoka Softbank: pitcher Taiga Kamichatani 27 games, 5 wins, 0 losses, ERA 2.25

The player to watch for the Saitama Seibu Lions is Taiga Hirasawa. In the game against Hokkaido Nippon-Ham on the 23rd, he made his first start in six games as the "number 6 first baseman." In his first at-bat, he hit hit that led to the first run, and he recorded three hit in total. Starting pitcher Yutaro Watanabe is aiming for his first win in about a month, since the game against Orix Buffaloes on June 21st. In his last start, he was the lose pitcher, giving up 4 runs in 7.0 innings, but he will be looking to correct his weaknesses before coming into the game.

Fukuoka Softbank will start pitcher Taiga Kamichatani. In his previous start on the 16th, he took mound as a starter for the first time in three years since 2023, pitching 6 innings, throwing 100 pitches, allowing 5 hit 3 Walk strike out 9, and giving up 2 runs, earning his first win as a starter since joining the team. Can he continue his strong pitching and win another game?

Text by Kanako Fukushima