The 10th game between Orix Buffaloes and the Saitama Seibu Lions will be held at Kyocera Dome Osaka on June 19th at 6 PM.

[Head-to-head record] Orix Buffaloes (3rd place) vs. Saitama Seibu Lions (1st place): 6 wins, 3 losses

[Announced Starting Pitcher]
Orix Buffaloes: pitcher Espinoza has a record of 6 wins and 2 losses in 10 games, ERA of 1.97 (4th place).
Saitama Seibu Lions: pitcher Kosei Takahashi, 10 games, 7 wins (tied for 1st), 3 losses, ERA 1.08 (2nd)

Orix Buffaloes finished the interleague series in 6th place with a 9-8 record. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham, in 4th place in Pacific League, is just 0 games behind, but can Orix hold onto 3rd place? Meanwhile, Saitama Seibu Lions won their first ever interleague championship with a record-high winning percentage of .824.

Orix Buffaloes 's starting pitcher, Espinoza, has a favorable record against Saitama Seibu Lions, with a career ERA of 1.40. This season, closer them runs in both games, including his first complete win shutout game in Japan on April 1st, earning two wins. Furthermore, the team's batting average against Saitama Seibu Lions is .278, making them the only team with a winning record against them. They will be hoping to showcase their good form in this game as well and secure a victory in the first game since the league season resumed.

On the opposing side, Saitama Seibu Lions will start pitcher Kosei Takahashi, who is aiming for his league-leading eighth win. He has lost nine straight games against Orix Buffaloes, but will he be able to secure his first win against them since April 22, 2023? Also, Shinya Hasegawa, who won the batting hitter in the interleague series, won the interleague MVP award on the 18th, becoming the first developmental player to do so. We can expect great things from his hitting once the league season resumes.

Written by Kai Nagi Niwa