Pacific League: Lotte vs Seibu Lions (5th, ZOZO)

The Seibu Lions will play against Lotte (ZOZO) to secure second place. A draw or better will guarantee their second-place finish.

The starting pitcher is Kona Takahashi, who is aiming for his first double-digit win total of 10 in three years. In the game against the Softbank Hawks on September 4th at Mizuho PayPay Dome, he had to leave the mound urgently in the middle of the third inning after a blister on his right index finger burst. Considering the impact of that injury, he was pulled after 66 pitches in five innings during the game against the Softbank Hawks on the 25th of the same month at Belluna Dome. In this game, he hopes to finally secure a victory, which has eluded him since August.

Seibu Lions' starting line-up is as follows:

1 (Right) Canario

2 (1) Hirasawa

3 (capture) Kojima

4 (DH) Nevin

5 (3) Watanabe

6 (2) Ishii

7 (Left) Hasegawa

8 (Shortstop) Genda

9 (Center) Nishikawa

Starting pitcher: Kosei Takahashi