◆ Pacific League Softbank vs. Nippon-Ham (28th, Mizuho PayPay)

Nippon-Ham 's pitcher Kohei Arihara will start the third game of the season against Softbank Hawks on the 29th (at Mizuho PayPay Stadium).

Initially, it was announced that he would start in the home opener, but the lineup was reorganized considering the condition of Kitayama, who participated in the WBC. Arihara, who will suddenly be facing his former team, said, "I just want to win, that's all. (I was told about my pitching date) I think it was in the middle of the open games, around mid-March."

Regarding the change in his pitching schedule, he said, "I was prepared to go wherever it was, so I didn't really think, 'Oh no!' I was ready to go at any time. But I'm very grateful to be given the opportunity to pitch from the first game against last year's championship team, so I'll do my best to be tenacious and help the team win."

Regarding his impressions of his teammates from last season after watching the opening game, he said, "Yesterday (in the opening game), they had a lot of extra-base hits, but they also have good teamwork, and I think there are some players with speed, so I want to pitch in a way that allows me to go after each and every batter."