The first game of the "Nippon Life Interleague Series 2026" between Hanshin Tigers and the Saitama Seibu Lions will be held at Koshien on June 3rd at 6 PM.

[Last season's head-to-head record] Hanshin Tigers vs. Saitama Seibu Lions: 0 wins, 3 losses

[Announced Starting Pitcher]
Hanshin Tigers: Kotaro Otake pitcher 7 games, 2 wins, 3 losses, ERA 2.45
Saitama Seibu Lions: Yutaro Watanabe pitcher 8 games, 2 wins, 3 losses, 3.38 ERA

Saitama Seibu Lions 's starting pitcher Yutaro Watanabe. In his last appearance against Tokyo Yakult, he pitched well, allowing only 4 hit striking strike out 7 innings without giving up a win or runs. This will be his first appearance at Koshien in two years. This season, he has struggled against left-handed batters, with Avg Avg batters compared to .264 against left-handed batters, but the question is whether he closer Teruaki Sato, a key player in Hanshin Tigers Tigers' lineup.

Among fielder, we have high hopes for catcher. This season, first-round draft pick Taiga Kojima has joined the team and is performing well with a batting average of .272, but on the other hand, Yuto Koga is in excellent form with 26 At Bat 73 hit 40 games, for a batting average of .356. Although he has had fewer opportunities to play Sena Tsuge is also batting in the .300s.

Written by Kai Nagi Niwa