Before the game, commemorative gifts were presented to the winners of the "Taiki Seimei Monthly MVP Award" for March and April Seibu Lions ・ Kaima Taira pitcher.

In March and April, he appeared in five games, compiling a record of 2 wins and 0 losses with ERA of 0.49. In his first appearance of the season on March 29 against Lotte (at ZOZO Marine Stadium), he held the Lotte lineup to closer five scattered hit, marking his first professional complete game and first career shutout game win.

In the previous year, 2013, he was the team's closer, recording 31 saves and winning the most saves title. He is the first pitcher in history to win the most saves title the previous year, switch to starting pitching the following year, and win the award again in March/April, right after the start of the season. He expressed his joy, saying, "I wasn't really thinking about it that much, but I just tried to do my best to perform well in each and every game."