On August 18th at 18:00, the 18th round match between Saitama Seibu Lions and Orix Buffaloes will be held on Tokyo Dome.

[Head-to-head Record] Saitama Seibu Lions (2nd place) vs. Orix Buffaloes (4th place) 7 wins, 9 losses, 1 draw

[Announced Starting Lineup]
Saitama Seibu Lions: Kaima Taira pitcher 17 games, 8 wins, 3 losses, ERA 1.49
Orix Buffaloes: Alen Kuri pitcher 20 games, 8 wins, 7 losses, ERA 2.83

The Saitama Seibu Lions is a once-a-year home game held in Tokyo Dome. Announced starter Kaima Taira pitcher pitched Tokyo Dome mound in the game against Tohoku Rakuten Eagles on June 22, pitching 96 pitches with 3 hit 4 Walk 4 strike out 1 runs pitching tenacity. Additionally, in Game 1 of the All-Star Game held in Tokyo Dome, he pitched 2 innings with 3 strike out and no runs, earning the Fighting Spirit Award. This will be their first match of the season against Orix Buffaloes, and they want to trust their teammates' support and make their game.

​Takeya Nakamura was promoted to the first team on August 7. On the 16th, in the game against Chiba Lotte Marines, he hit a timely doble, marking his first RBI of the season. Looking back at Tsuyoshi Nakamura's recent Tokyo Dome play, he came as a pinch hitter in the interleague game against hit The Giants on June 22 last year. In the home game three years ago on April 18, 2023, against Fukuoka Softbank, he and Shuta Tonosaki thrilled the fans with back-to-back home runs. Attention is on whether he will hit a home run for the first time in three years at Tokyo Dome or see if the veteran bat hits it.

Orix Buffaloes is currently on a losing streak with double-digit runs in two consecutive games. For Alen Kuri pitcher, this is the first mound of Tokyo Dome in two weeks. In the August 3rd game, he allowed three home runs and runs six in the second inning, but recovered from the third inning onward, going 7 hit 3 Walk 5 strike out 6 runs (earned runs 2).

Also, in the August 3 game, Ryoto Kita came in as a substitute but hit three extra-base hits including two Home Run, totaling five RBI. Will Kurita, who only Home Run five in August, hit another home run with Tokyo Dome?

Text by Ayako Kikuchi