Orix Buffaloes pitcher Anderson Espinoza has been scheduled to start against Seibu Lions on the 15th (Kyocera Dome Osaka). In his third year in Japan, he has been in excellent form so far this season, with two wins in two starts and only one runs allowed in a total of 16 inning. In the game against the same team on the 1st (Belluna Dome), he pitched his first career shutout game, allowing only five hit strike out. "I've forgotten about shutout game and I want to go into the game with the mindset of competing against each hitter," he said, taking a relaxed win.

Miyagi, the team's ace left fielder, was scratched from the roster on April 10 due to a medial collateral ligament injury in his left elbow. Miyagi is expected to play a full rotation as the mainstay of the starting lineup, along with Kuri and Soya. Miyagi is one of Japan's leading starter players, so it's especially painful to be without him. But the whole team will work together as one, do what we can do well, and we all want to fill the inning position," he stressed. Also, Daiki Tajima pitcher joined the first team on this day.