June 07 Chunichi vs Rakuten NPB Live Broadcast, Sports Analysis
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With strong pitching helping to break their losing streak, the Chunichi Dragons will have Hideaki Wakui (2 wins, 3 losses, 2.90 ERA) aiming for his third win of the season. Wakui showcased solid performance with 7 innings, 5 hits, and 1 earned run in an away game against Orix on the 31st and has been consistently pitching 6 innings or more with 2 earned runs or fewer in his recent 4 games. Considering it's a home game, he is likely to pitch at least 6 innings with 2 earned runs or fewer. In their previous game, the Chunichi batting lineup capitalized on SoftBank's bullpen to score 3 runs, including a solo home run by Dayán Viciedo, demonstrating batting prowess for the first time in a while. However, expecting a large number of runs would be unreasonable. The bullpen, having pitched 3.1 innings without conceding a run, was notably helped by Kento Fujishima's scoreless defense during the high-pressure 6th inning.
Combining solid pitching and batting to sweep the series, the Rakuten Golden Eagles will have Takahisa Hayakawa (3 wins, 3 losses, 2.76 ERA) challenging for his fourth win of the season. Hayakawa had a disappointing outing with 3 earned runs in 6 innings against Yakult in their Fukushima game on the 31st, continuing a recent pattern of alternating good and bad games. His overall performance in dome stadiums this season hasn't been great, but his 7-inning scoreless win at home against Chunichi last year gives some hope. In their previous game, the Rakuten batting lineup impressively accumulated 4 runs against Yuki Nishi, demonstrating remarkable focus in this interleague away series. Their ability to seize opportunities is notably commendable. The bullpen, keeping a clean sheet for 1.2 innings, was significantly aided by Sora Suzuki's closing performance.
Chunichi once again proved that pitching wins games in their previous match, highlighting their variable hitting. Given their struggles against left-handed pitchers, targeting Hayakawa won't be easy. Although Wakui's pitching is quite impressive, Rakuten's scoring capability this interleague series is astonishing, and their ability to tackle bullpens cannot be ignored. The Rakuten Golden Eagles, with superior strength, are closer to victory.
Predicted Score: Rakuten 3-2 Victory
Win-Draw-Loss: 1
Handicap: Chunichi Victory
Under-Over: Under