On 1 April, at 18:30, the first round of the Chiba Lotte vs. Orix will be played on Zozo Marine Stadium.

Last season's head-to-head record: Chiba Lotte (tied for 1st) vs. Orix (3rd) 16 wins, 8 losses, 1 draw

【Predicted starters (last season's results)】
Chiba Lotte: Shuta Ishikawa pitcher 15 games, 7 wins, 2 losses, ERA 2.56
Orix: Espinoza pitcher 22 games, 7 wins, 9 losses, ERA 2.63

Chiba Lotte got off to a great start with three straight wins to start the season, with Shuta Ishikawa pitcher making his first start since his transfer. Ishikawa pitcher pitched in three games to open the season, throwing 12 innings pitched and hit 10, 12 strike out, 6 runs (earned runs 4) and ERA 3.00. Will the mound of Zozo Marine Stadium, which has been compatible since the Fukuoka Softbank era, come into its own immediately?

In the batting lineup, expect Toshiya Sato players. In the previous game, he went 4 At Bat hit, but in the first game of the opening three-game series against Fukuoka Softbank, he hit a spectacular two-run shot off the opposing starter, Kohei Arihara pitcher. Last season, in addition to a career-high .278 batting average, he won his first Best Nine award and was a key player on the team's offense and defense. He was sidelined due to a broken bone in the camp, but he wants to lead the team again this season.

Orix is a Ryo Ota player and Kotaro Kobayashi Keep an eye on the players. In the previous match, Ota scored 4 hit 2 RBI and Kobayashi scored 3 hit, contributing greatly to the team's opening card win. In the opening three games of the season, Ota and Kobayashi have maintained their strong form with a .385 batting average and Kobayashi batting .462. After winning three consecutive league titles, will the young Niyuma be able to play an active role in this match in order to avenge last season's humiliation of sinking to fifth place due to a lack of goals?

Written by Aoi Nishijima

・ Pacific League standings Table/Individual Grades