July 17th 18:00 Nippon-Ham vs Rakuten NPB Pro Baseball Game Analysis
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Nippon Ham Fighters Complete Comeback with Tamiya’s Sayonara Hit
Nippon Ham Fighters’ Shoma Kanemura (3 wins, 4 losses, 2.12 ERA) is challenging for his fourth win of the season. Kanemura’s strong performance, with seven innings and one run allowed in an away game against Seibu on the 10th, overcame his poor showing against Chiba Lotte on the road. Although he already delivered seven innings of one-run ball in an away game against Rakuten this season, the fact that he has been slightly disappointing in home games could be a variable.
The Nippon Ham batting lineup, which managed to score five runs, including Franmil Reyes' three-run homer, by exploiting Rakuten's bullpen after being held down by Uchi’s pitching in the previous game, showed promise with its late-game hitting. Missing a chance in the bottom of the ninth but taking advantage of the opportunity in the bottom of the tenth is certainly a point of optimism. However, Sugiyura's pitching, which blew the lead in the eighth inning, seems insufficient for a setup role.
Rakuten Golden Eagles’ Bullpen Mismanagement
Rakuten Golden Eagles’ Tatsuki Koja (2 wins, 3 losses, 3.00 ERA) is aiming for his third win of the season. Koja demonstrated his first-rounder prowess with a win after pitching six innings of two-hit, scoreless ball in an away game against SoftBank on the 6th. Although he suffered a loss with two runs over six innings in his debut against Nippon Ham at home on May 25th, Koja, who pitches well in dome stadiums, is expected to last six innings.
Rakuten’s batting lineup, which scored four runs including two home runs against Yamazaki and Sugiyura in the previous game, ultimately led to a comeback loss due to the lack of focus shown in the first game. Particularly notable was Yoya Ogo's failure with bases loaded and two outs in the top of the sixth, which seemed to trigger a butterfly effect. The bullpen, which blew Uchi’s win by allowing five runs in four innings, should blame itself for bringing in lefty Nick Turley, whose pitches are monotonous, against right-handed slugger Franmil Reyes.
Game Outlook
It’s no exaggeration to say that Rakuten's naïve bullpen management decided the outcome of the previous game. Rakuten managed to tie the game and go into extra innings, but considering the performance of Rakuten's bullpen afterward, this game also seems highly risky. Although there's only a fine line between Kanemura at home and Koja in the dome stadium, the aftereffects of Rakuten’s shaken bullpen will likely have a negative impact on this game. The Nippon Ham Fighters, who have the upper hand in starting pitching, are closer to victory.
Predicted Score
Nippon Ham 4:3 Victory
Game Prediction
Match Win: 1
Handicap: Rakuten Victory
Over/Under: Over