Seibu Lions Lions pitcher Chihiro Sumida will start against Orix Buffaloes on the 14th (at Kyocera Dome) in an attempt to secure his second win of the season.

On this day, he participated in starter practice held at Belluna Dome. In a friendly atmosphere, he worked up a sweat doing sprints and other exercises.

In the last appearance on the 7th and Softbank Hawks (Mizuho Paypay), he scored his first win of the season with 7 hit 3 runs in 7 innings. Kondo and Yamakawa were hit by two Home Run, but "(runner) was not a timely hit. It's not good to score a run, but Kondo-san was home run the ball, and Yamakawa-san is also a batter who can hit the in-course straight over there (left field). I think the other side also came to hit with their stomachs up. That's the game."

This will be his second matchup against Orix Buffaloes this season, just half a month into the season, the first being on March 31st, his first game of the season. In their last encounter, he allowed two timely hits to Wakatsuki, who he played with in the WBC that same month, but he denied that it had any particular impact, saying, "I've been hit by him before, so it doesn't feel special." He added, "My condition isn't bad, so the only thing that matters now is how well closer after they score, and how well I can prevent them from scoring first," as he takes to mound with determination.