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."

In the exhibition series against Yakult Swallows starting on the 13th (at Jingu Stadium), Yamaoka, Kuri, and Tajima are scheduled to start. Ace Miyagi, who is currently playing in the WBC, as well as Soya, Yamashita, Espinoza, new foreign player Jerry, and Teranishi are also in reserve, and he emphasized, "There are about eight pitchers currently pitching as starters. It's a competition among them."