On July 31st at 6 PM, the 16th game between Tohoku Rakuten Eagles and Fukuoka Softbank will be held at Rakuten Eagles Mobile's Saikyo Park Miyagi. This game will also mark the first day of the major summer event, "NatsuSta! STARLIGHT GALAXY".

[Head-to-head record] Tohoku Rakuten Eagles (6th place) vs. Fukuoka Softbank (1st place): 7 wins, 8 losses

[Announced Starting Pitcher]
Tohoku Rakuten Eagles: Takahisa Hayakawa pitcher 13 games, 4 wins, 4 losses, 2.93 ERA
Fukuoka Softbank: pitcher Taiga Kamichatani, 28 games, 6 wins, 0 losses, ERA 2.54

Tohoku Rakuten Eagles will start pitcher Takahisa Hayakawa. In his last start against Chiba Lotte Marines, he gave up runs early on, struggling to make ends meet with 10 hit 8 runs allowed in 5 innings. On the other hand, he has two wins against Fukuoka Softbank this season. Can he pitch well and get win since the 3rd? Opposing him is Fukuoka Softbank 's Taiga Kamichatani, pitcher has won two straight games since switching to a starting role.

In the batting lineup, we should keep an eye on Itsuki Murabayashi and Yuki Yanagita who both hit Home Run in the "Mynavi All-Star Game 2026" held on the 28th and 29th. Murabayashi is in good form with a batting average of .292 in July, and he recorded 4 At Bat in 4 hit in the game Orix Buffaloes on the 16th. Yanagita is also in good form with a monthly batting average of .323. Will they be able to deliver a game-winning hit from their bats in this game as well?

Written by Kai Nagi Niwa