◆ Pacific League: Orix Buffaloes vs. Rakuten Eagles (27th, Hotto Motto Kobe)

Orix Buffaloes ・ Tomoya Mori catcher returns to the lineup starting line-up as the “No. 3 batter and designated hitter.” Having recovered from an upper-body injury, he rejoined the first team on this day. A key player on both offense and defense has returned to the lineup. Since the league resumed, the team has lost two consecutive series. On the 26th, slugger Sugimoto was removed from the active roster.

While trailing first-place Seibu Lions by six games, fifth-place Lotte has closed the gap to just 2.5 games. Ota batted fourth and Nakagawa batted fifth. Below is Orix Buffaloes 's starting line-up.

1 (Left) Nishikawa

2 (1) Yamanaka

3 (D) Mori Tomo

4 (2) Ota

5 (Right) Nakagawa

6 (Center) Sugisawa

7 (3) So

8 (Play) Beni Hayashi

9 (captured) young month

Starting pitcher: Espinoza