Pacific League: Orix Buffaloes vs. Rakuten Eagles (25th, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

Orix Buffaloes pitcher Kyosuke Saito will make his first start of the season against Rakuten Eagles on the 26th (Kyocera Dome Osaka). In his fourth professional season, he overcame a right elbow injury and made his first appearance in the first team in two years on July 22nd against Softbank Hawks (at Mizuho PayPay Dome). However, he gave up 8 hit 7 runs in 1/3 of an inning and was removed from the active roster the following day, the 23rd. After being readjusted in the minor leagues, the right-hander will take mound at his home stadium for the first time since June 22nd, 2012 against Seibu Lions (Kyocera Dome Osaka). "I'm very happy. First of all, I want to do my best to get one out at a time, one closer at a time," he said with determination.

The day after suffering a major meltdown at the opposing team's home stadium, Mizuho PayPay Dome, he met with manager Kishida during practice. "We talked about a lot of things, and he was thinking the same things I was thinking. He gave me a lot of advice about my pitching form, and that's what motivated me to work hard in the farm league this time," he said, reflecting on himself with the goal of improving the quality of his fastball. In the farm league game against Softbank Hawks on the 18th (at Hotto Motto Field Kobe), he pitched well, allowing only 4 hit and 2 runs over 7 innings strike out 8. "I was able to get struck out with my fastball, so I feel like I'm getting a little bit better," he said, expressing his confidence.

A promising prospect who recorded two wins in '24, his second year out of high school. 'There isn't much of the season left, but I want to do my best so I can pitch more and more from here on,' he said, vowing to make a comeback from an ERA of 189.00.