On September 15th from 18:00, the 22nd round match between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham and Chiba Lotte Marines will be held at ES CON FIELD.

【Head-to-head record】Hokkaido Nippon-Ham (3rd) vs Chiba Lotte Marines (5th) 13 wins, 8 losses

【Probable Starters】
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham: Koki Kitayama pitcher 21 games, 11 wins, 3 losses, ERA 2.39
Chiba Lotte Marines: Haruya Tanaka pitcher 14 games, 2 wins, 5 losses, ERA 4.13

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham's starter is Koki Kitayama pitcher, starting on 10 days' rest. In the previous game against Tohoku Rakuten Eagles, he led the team to a win with 8 innings, 3 hits, and 2 runs. On the other hand, the fact that he has allowed multiple home runs in each of his last three starts is a concern. Can he shut down key situations and secure his 12th win, tying for the league lead? In the lineup, Kotaro Kiyomiya recorded his career-high 19th Home Run on the 13th. Expectations are high for a shot at his home stadium to reach his first 20 Home Run milestone.

For the opposing Chiba Lotte Marines, watch Koki Yamaguchi. This season, he has recorded 28 home runs, far exceeding his personal best, and he hit home runs in both games against pitcher Kitayama in August. Additionally, he has a good compatibility with ES CON FIELD, batting .333. He wants to provide support with his swing for Haruya Tanaka pitcher, who is aiming for his first win in a month.

Text by Minagi Niwa