◆Nippon Life Interleague Series 2026 Orix Buffaloes 4-2 Yakult (11th, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

Orix Buffaloes manager Mamoru Kishida didn't celebrate extravagantly after his team's three-game sweep against Yakult. All six Pacific League teams won their games that day, and the five-game gap with league leaders Seibu Lions remained unchanged. "It's tough," he said with a wry smile. "If we lose, we'll be left behind..." he continued. "I'm really feeling how important it is not to lose in interleague play."

The final interleague series will be a three-game series Hanshin Tigers starting on the 12th (Kyocera Dome Osaka). Perdomo, who has been moved from relief to pitching and will be making his first start in Japan, was given the expectation that "he should make good use of his distinctive pitches and give it his all." The team has a 23-5 record at home this season. "We will play our usual style baseball steadily and do our best not to lose," he said with determination.