The 20th game between Orix Buffaloes and Fukuoka Softbank will be held at Kyocera Dome Osaka on August 30th at 2 PM.

[Head-to-head record] Orix Buffaloes (4th place) vs. Fukuoka Softbank (1st place): 10 wins, 9 losses

[Announced Starting Pitcher]
Orix Buffaloes: pitcher Ryuhei Sotani 11 games, 5 wins, 5 losses, ERA 3.58
Fukuoka Softbank: Haru Matsumoto pitcher 17 games, 8 wins, 3 losses, 3.02 ERA

Orix Buffaloes will start pitcher Ryuhei Sotani. In their previous encounter on the 23rd, he pitched well, hit 103 pitches over 7 innings, allowing only 2 hits and 2 Walk strike out up no runs. He didn't allow a runner to reach second base and shut down the powerful Hawks lineup. Ryoma Nishikawa had been in a slump, going hit in 15 At Bat-bats since his 10th home run of the season (a two-run homer) on the 23rd, but he showed his potential with two hit in the previous game.

Fukuoka Softbank will have pitcher Haru Matsumoto on mound as their starter. In their previous encounter on the 23rd, he pitched well, throwing 94 pitches over 7 innings, allowing 5 hit, 2 Walk strike out 4, and giving up only 1 runs, but he was unlucky with the offense and suffered his third loss. Will he be able to pitch well again in this game? On the offensive side, keep an eye on Akira Kawase. In the previous game, he made his first start since the 18th and recorded 2 hit and 1 RBI, showing he's been given the opportunity to shine.

Written by Aoi Nishijima