[July 19 18:00] NPB: Orix vs Rakuten Game Information
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Orix
Sotani Ryuhei (5 wins, 4 losses, 2.06 ERA) aims for his 6th win of the season. Despite an excellent performance of 6.2 innings with 1 earned run against Chiba Lotte on the 12th, he lost due to the team's poor batting. He's finally showcasing the prowess of a first-round draft pick. His strong outdoor stadium performance, including a 7-inning, 1-run victory against Rakuten on the 2nd, is a hopeful sign for this game. The biggest concern is Orix's batting lineup, which failed to break the Veruna Dome jinx and managed only 3 hits in a complete-game shutout loss on Wednesday. Additionally, their lackluster hitting at Hotto Motto Field this season adds to the worries. The bullpen, which allowed 1 run in 2.1 innings, seems to have rushed into signing Saiki Kaito too early.
Rakuten
Hayakawa Takahisa (6 wins, 3 losses, 2.20 ERA) takes the mound to stop a losing streak. On the 12th, he secured a win with a 7-inning, 2-run effort at home against Seibu, maintaining a streak of quality starts since May. Notably, he threw 7.2 innings with 3 earned runs against Orix at Kyocera Dome on May 17th, and his recent strong pitching can't be ignored. The Rakuten batting lineup, which was limited to just 2 runs by Kanemura's pitching on Wednesday, needs to address its sharp decline in performance after a big win. Another issue is their poor performance in away games against Orix this year. Watanabe Shota's pitching remains a concern as he allowed 2 critical runs in 0.2 innings.
Comment
Both teams' batting performances on Wednesday were disappointing. Considering Hotto Motto Field favors left-handed pitchers, this game is likely to be a pitching duel. However, Rakuten's bullpen issues are likely to be decisive. Orix Buffaloes, with their stronger pitching, are closer to victory.
Recommended Betting
[[Win/Loss]]: Orix Win
[[Handicap]]: Rakuten Win
[[U/O]]: Under ▼