On June 24th at 18:00, Fukuoka Softbank vs Orix Buffaloes will play the 9th round on MIZUHO PayPay Dome.

[Head-to-head Record] Fukuoka Softbank (2nd place) vs. Orix Buffaloes (3rd place) 2 wins, 6 losses

[Announced Starting Lineup]
Fukuoka Softbank: Toshiya Nakamura pitcher 2 matches, 0 wins, 0 losses, ERA 0.00
Orix Buffaloes: Daiki Tajima pitcher 7 games, 2 wins, 2 losses, ERA 4.64

Fukuoka Softbank 's starter, Toshiya Nakamura pitcher, will be transferred from Chiba Lotte Marines in the 2025 offseason active draft. This season, he has appeared twice as a reliever, closer one inning runs in both. This was his first start since June 19, 2021. Can he earn his first win since the transfer with his outstanding pitching?

​Orix Buffaloes Daiki Tajima pitcher is scheduled to start. In his last first-team appearance (June 6, against Hiroshima), he threw 63 pitches over 4 innings, including 2 homeruns, with 6 hit, 1 Walk, 1 strike out, and 5 runs, a disappointing result. In the farm league game against Fukuoka Softbank on the 16th, he pitched 7.2 innings, 9 hit no walks Hit by Pitch 7 strike out 6 runs, so he wasn't fully at full speed yet, but he will adjust and aim for his third win of the season.

Text by Aoi Nemoto