Lotte's Koshiro Hiroike will start in the game against The Giants on the 5th.

Hiroike commented through the team, "This will be my first time pitching at Tokyo Dome, so I want to get used to mound quickly and pitch a solid game. I'll be playing against Urata (Shunsuke Urata), whom I faced many times in college, so I'll do my best not to lose."

So far this season, Hiroike has pitched 41 innings in 8 games, with a record of 2 wins and 1 loss and ERA of 2.85. In his last start against Hiroshima, he was win pitcher, giving up 2 runs in 6 innings.