2026 Persol Climax Series Pacific League Final Stage Game 2: Softbank Hawks vs. Nippon-Ham (15th, Mizuho PayPay)

Nippon-Ham announced the starting line-up for the game against the Softbank Hawks on the 15th.

The team, which suffered a comeback loss the previous day on the 14th, significantly reshuffled their starting line-up. Kota Yazawa was appointed as the pitcher in the first slot. Kotaro Kiyomiya, an infielder, was placed in the third slot.

The starting mound is taken by pitcher Koki Kitayama. Expectations are high for the pitch of the right-hander who won 13 games this season to earn the title for most wins.

They finished the season more than 10 games behind the first-place Softbank Hawks, and this final stage started with a seven-game series where the Softbank Hawks held a two-win advantage. After suffering a comeback loss in the first game yesterday on the 14th, the situation from Nippon-Ham's perspective is currently 0 wins and 3 losses. They aim to stage a comeback by grabbing a win in the second game.

▼Nippon-Ham

1 (center) Yazawa

2 (Shortstop) Mizuno

3 (1) Kiyomiya Yuki

4 (3B) Nomura

5 (Right) Manami

6 (Finger) Reyes

7 (2nd) Yamagata

8 (Catcher) Shindo

9 (Left Field) Nishikawa

Starting pitcher = Kitayama