Seibu Lions Lions manager Fumiya Nishiguchi announced on the 24th that he will entrust the starting pitcher role for the opening game against the Chiba Lotte Marines on the 27th (at ZOZO Marine Stadium) to eighth-year veteran right-hander Yutaro Watanabe.

On this day, after the victory prayer held at Sayama Fudo-san in Tokorozawa, Saitama, manager Nishiguchi, when interviewed, announced, "The opening pitcher will be Yutaro Watanabe. He was the only one of the 12 teams to announce the opening pitcher, and although Seibu Lions had not yet been announced, in early March, the manager told Watanabe, "I'll go with Yutaro for the opening. Sumida, who had also been mentioned as a candidate, was selected for the WBC. Manager Nishiguchi shared a behind-the-scenes story, "I was going to go with Sumida if he had not gone to the WBC, but once Sumida went, I decided to go with Yutaro. Watanabe, who had adjusted well with a 1-0 record and ERA 1.38 in three open games, was also entrusted with a major role for the first time. "When Sumyan (Sumida) was selected for the WBC, I thought my chances were high, so to some extent, it was as I expected.

　指揮官はさらに第２戦の先発に武内、第３戦の先発に平良を託すと公表。武内が「勇太朗さんに続けられるように頑張ります」と言葉を弾ませると、平良は「きょうは不動明王と目が合ったので、勝てると思います」とジョークまじりに抱負を口にした。「この３人を見ていると本当にワクワクしています」と西口監督。その先陣を切る渡辺は「チームを含めて勢いをつけられるような投球をしたいです」と力強く誓った。