September 13th 18:00 NPB Orix SoftBank Korea-Japan Baseball Analysis Sports Analysis
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The Orix Buffaloes, suffering from a collapse in their pitching staff that led to a heavy defeat, are looking to change their fortunes by sending out Yamashita Shunpei (3 wins, 4 losses, 3.98 ERA). Yamashita earned a victory with 7 scoreless innings in a game against Seibu on the 4th, showcasing a balanced pitching performance averaging 7 innings and 1 earned run since then. He had a strong outing against SoftBank on August 24, where he recorded a victory with 7 innings, 2 hits, and 1 earned run, so this momentum could continue. In Wednesday's game, the Orix batting lineup scored 3 runs, including 2 home runs against Kaikura, but their continued struggles in home games persist. The lack of focus in the batting lineup is quite serious. Maechi Yuito, who collapsed with 5 earned runs in just 2 innings, still has a long way to go.
The SoftBank Hawks, riding a 3-game winning streak fueled by powerful offense, are aiming for their 4th consecutive win with Arihara Kohei (11 wins, 7 losses, 2.59 ERA). On the 6th, Arihara pitched 8 innings giving up 1 earned run but suffered a loss due to the batting lineup's struggles, so at least it's fortunate that his pitching content has improved. He has been strong against Orix this season, but considering it’s a game at Kyocera Dome, expectations are for around 2 to 3 earned runs over 7 innings. In Wednesday's game, the SoftBank lineup scored 9 runs, including a solo home run from Masaki Tomoya, while targeting Takisaka and Yuge, showing that their away performance is encouraging. Particularly, the complete revival of the core lineup is a significant boost for the team. The bullpen's 2 innings of scoreless relief has been a welcome respite for the winning team's rest.
Orix's hitting is struggling. In contrast, SoftBank's hitting is coming alive. However, considering the pitching performances of Yamashita and Arihara, the matchup is quite even. While Orix may have a slight advantage, they have been shaky in the bullpen recently, whereas SoftBank is proving their resilience. The SoftBank Hawks, with the edge in late-game strength, seem closer to victory.
Predicted score: 3-2, SoftBank wins.
Win-loss record: 1-1
Handicap: Orix wins
Over/Under: Under