Orix Buffaloes Buffaloes manager Mamoru Kishida (44) has warned of the survival of pitcher staff. With just two weeks until the opening on the 27th, he expects the battle for pitching to intensify for both starters and relievers. "It's getting increasingly tough to judge," he said, adding, "It's getting tougher and tougher to judge."

Yamaoka, Kuri, and Tajima are scheduled to start in the exhibition three-game series against Yakult starting on the 13th (at Jingu Stadium). With ace Miyagi, Soya, Yamashita, Espinoza, and new foreign players Jerry and Teranishi also in the wings, Yamaoka emphasized, "Right now, there are about eight pitchers who are starting. It's a competition among them."