The 21st game between Orix Buffaloes and Chiba Lotte Marines will be held at Kyocera Dome Osaka on September 4th at 6 PM.

[Head-to-head record] Orix Buffaloes (4th place) vs. Chiba Lotte Marines (5th place): 12 wins, 8 losses

[Announced Starting Pitcher]
Orix Buffaloes: pitcher Yasuto Takashima, 19 games, 5 wins, 4 losses, ERA 4.19
Chiba Lotte Marines: pitcher Jackson, 22 games, 9 wins, 7 losses, 3.43 ERA

Orix Buffaloes, currently on a three-game losing streak, will have pitcher Yasuto Takashima start after five days of rest. In his previous start against Fukuoka Softbank he pitched five innings, throwing 78 pitches, allowing only four hit and one runs, earning his first win in a month. His last start against Chiba Lotte Marines was on July 11th, where he pitched a tenacious game, allowing nine hit and two Hit by Pitch batsmen through eight innings, but only giving up two runs. Can closer his ground again this time and secure the crucial opening game of the series?

Fifth-placed Chiba Lotte Marines, 0.5 games behind Orix Buffaloes, are keeping an eye on Misho Nishikawa. He has maintained a stable batting average of .291 this season, and has also set career highs in Home Run and RBI. The team has a jinxed record at Kyocera Dome Osaka, with 1 win and 8 losses, but they will be hoping to break through there with leadoff hitter Kyota Fujiwara. Also, starting pitcher Jackson will be pitching after a five-day rest.

Written by Kai Nagi Niwa