On September 20th from 14:00, the 22nd round between Rakuten Eagles and Fukuoka Softbank will be held at Rakuten Mobile Saikyo Park Miyagi.

【Match Record】Rakuten Eagles (6th) vs Fukuoka Softbank (1st) 10 wins, 11 losses

【Probable Starters】
Rakuten Eagles: Ryota Takinaka pitcher 18 games, 5 wins, 8 losses, ERA 3.71
Fukuoka Softbank: Ryosuke Otsu pitcher 20 games, 11 wins (tied for 3rd), 4 losses, ERA 2.36 (3rd)

For Rakuten Eagles, Ryota Takinaka pitcher will start. This will be his first matchup against Fukuoka Softbank this season, but last season he pitched in 4 games with a 2-1 record and a 1.42 ERA, showing good compatibility. In the same matchup on July 12, 2025, he also achieved his first professional complete game and first shutout game. After adjusting in the farm team, he aims for his first win in about two months since July 14.

On the other hand, the starter for Fukuoka Softbank is Ryosuke Otsu pitcher. In his previous appearance (5th, vs Saitama Seibu Lions), he marked his 11th win with a strong performance of 7 innings, 104 pitches, 4 hits, 1 Walk, 6 strike outs, and no runs, and he continues to deliver stable pitches, maintaining an ERA that ranks 3rd in the league. Can he create a good game with another strong pitch in this match and bring a win to the team?

Text by Yui Kayama