◆ "If it's a low-scoring game, the flow will be Softbank."

On the 29th, Softbank win the fourth game of the "SMBC Japan Series 2025" against Hanshin Tigers, 3-2. With three consecutive wins from the second game, SoftBank improved their record to 3 wins and 1 loss, putting them in a strong position to become the Japan Series champions for the first time in five years.

The starting pitchers for Game 5 on the 30th were announced as Otake Kotaro for Hanshin Tigers and Kohei Arihara for Softbank. On the 29th, Fuji TV ONE's "Professional baseball News 2025" MC Takagi Yutaka commented that he was "really surprised" that Arihara would be the starting pitcher, to which commentator Saito Akio speculated, "I think they brought him in with a four-day break, but the fact that they brought Arihara in will depend on tomorrow's results. I don't know if it's good or bad, but if it's bad, considering it's Game 7, I get the feeling they're calculating that he'll be used as a relief pitcher with two days' break, but I think they sent Arihara in with the intention of going all out."

Another commentator, Atsushi Kataoka, analyzed, "I think it depends on the condition of Tomohisa Ozeki, but normally it's conceivable that the losing team would go with a four-day break, but it feels like Softbank 's starter is the one who's attacking first." Takagi predicted, "Arihara is fine with a four-day break, so I feel he'll pitch well. In a low-scoring game, the flow is in Softbank 's favor."

☆ Cooperation: Fuji TV ONE "Professional baseball News 2025"