◆ Pacific League: Softbank Hawks vs. Lotte (13th, Mizuho PayPay)

Softbank Hawks, currently 31 games away from the championship, saw Yuki Yanagita outfielder—who has been in top form with a .436 batting average in August—start on the bench. This marks his first time on the bench since the July 25 game against Seibu Lions (Belluna Dome) and his first time in the second half of the season. Ryoya Kurihara, who has homered in two consecutive games, will start at third base batting third—a position he hasn’t held since the May 13 game against Seibu Lions (Mizuho PayPay).

Softbank Hawks 's starting line-up is as follows:

1 (1) Masaki

2 (Central) Shuto

3 (3) Kurihara

4 (Finger) Kondo

5 (Catcher) Yu Yamamoto

6 (2) Makihara Dai

7 (Left) Ishizuka

8 (Right) Yanagimachi

9 (play) Shoko

(Pitcher) Stewart