☆ Hanshin Tigers vs. Rakuten Eagles (18:00, Koshien) Hanshin Tigers: Otake, Rakuten Eagles: Maeda Ken
The interleague series has only one game remaining, Hanshin Tigers-Rakuten Eagles game which was postponed due to rain. Currently, Rakuten Eagles is in last place in the interleague series, 10 games behind the league leaders, Seibu Lions. If they draw or lose, they will finish the interleague series with a double-digit deficit.
The last time a team finished the interleague series with a double-digit game deficit was in 2011 when Lotte (10th place), Yokohama (11th place, both 10 games behind), and Hiroshima (12th place, 12 games behind). If Rakuten Eagles has finished with a double-digit game deficit. Can they show their fighting spirit and finish with a victory?
![[Photo] Announcer Ayako Kisa makes a funny face! Also Rakuten Eagles her husband, Rakuten GM Kazuhisa Ishii, and former Yakult manager Takatsu.](https://hochi.news/images/2025/12/13/20251213-OHT1I51403-L.jpg)
![[Rakuten Eagles] Kenta Maeda aims for his first NPB win in 3911 days: "It's been a while since I've been to Koshien, so I'm looking forward to it." Will he finally get his long-awaited win in his sixth start...? He will start against Hanshin Tigers on the 17th.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/06/16/20260616-OHT1I51497-C.jpg)
![[Rakuten Eagles] Voit, who has been in poor condition, is set to return to action. His batting average was a .119, and he was removed from the roster on May 18th. This will be his first game in a month.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/06/16/20260616-OHT1I51175-C.jpg)
![[Rakuten Eagles] Yoshihito Yoshii appointed as new manager. In the past, there have been cases of umpire and newspaper reporters being appointed during the season, but this is an extremely rare case in recent years.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/06/15/20260615-OHT1I51516-C.jpg)
![[Rakuten Eagles] When Masato Yoshii left Lotte, he expressed regret, saying, "I wanted to do it a little longer"... revealing his true nature as a passionate man.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/06/15/20260615-OHT1I51522-C.jpg)
![[Full transcript of press conference] Rakuten Eagles owner Hiroshi Mikitani to new manager Masato Yoshii: "Develop a winner's mentality" The theoretical new manager is burning with fighting spirit: "We're going to win," "Spiritualism"](https://hochi.news/images/2026/06/17/20260617-OHT1I51121-L.jpg)
