Rakuten Eagles Eagles pitcher Kenta Maeda, who is on the verge of his 100th career win in NPB, will have to make a tune-up appearance in the minor leagues, it was decided on August 1st. He was originally scheduled to start against Softbank Hawks Hawks on August 1st (Rakuten Eagles Mobile), but the game on July 31st was canceled due to rain, and Hayakawa was moved up to start that game on August 1st. Maeda's pitching date was changed. Manager Masato Yoshii explained, "We're going to skip Kenta Maeda 's start. We could shift the other rotations, but that would change everyone's adjustments, so I feel bad for him, but we're going to have him skip a start."

He hasn't pitched since July 15th, and due to the long gap between appearances, he will now make adjustment appearances in the minor leagues. It is highly likely that he will pitch in one of the two farm league games against Softbank Hawks on the 4th or 5th (Rakuten Eagles Mobile), and then make his first-team debut in the three-game series against Orix Buffaloes (same) starting on the 11th.

This season, he has a record of 2 wins and 3 losses ERA of 2.91 in 9 appearances. He struggled in the early part of the season, but has shown his true potential, achieving high-quality starts (HQS = 7 innings or more with 2 or fewer earned runs) in his last three appearances. The reliable veteran is preparing to rack up wins.