Seibu Lions ・ Kaima Taira pitcher will start in the game against Orix Buffaloes on the 18th (Tokyo D).

On this day, he participated in starter practice held at the team's home stadium, Belluna Dome. During his pitch practice on mound, he threw while "carefully checking the quality of breaking ball, how much they were curving, and whether they were the same as usual."

His last appearance in Tokyo Dome was his first appearance since Game 1 of the All-Star Baseball Tournament on July 28. In that game, he pitched as the second pitcher from the third inning with the team trailing by two runs. He pitched two innings with no hit, 3 strike out, and runs pitching, earning win pitcher and earning the 'Fighting Spirit Award.'

The right-handed pitcher, whose bewildered expression when informed by team staff that he had won the award became a hot topic on social media, confessed that the truth was a misunderstanding: "I didn't know anything and was just told, 'You've won the Fighting Spirit Award,' and I thought, 'China? Guangdong Province?' If they had said, 'You've won the Fighting Spirit Award,' I would have been like, 'Oh!'" Nevertheless, he still has a positive impression of the stadium, saying, "It's just easy to pitch in." In order to bring even more momentum to the team, he said, "I think it's a competition to see how far I can go in 100 pitches. I want to finish it as quickly as possible. As long as possible, yes," as he aims for complete game rather than a fighting spirit.