This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy NPB series.
Yokohama DeNA BayStars (3-2) vs Chunichi Dragons (2-3)
Thursday, 25th June, 6:35 AM EDT
Projected starters
LHP Yuya Sakamoto (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs RHP Yuichiro Okano (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Game Preview
The BayStars will go for the sweep Thursday, as they previously defeated the Dragons 3-0 and 3-2 in the first two games of the series. As a result, the home side is pushing towards the top spot in the Central League standings with a 3-2 record, just one game behind the league-leading Yomiuri Giants. Meanwhile, the Dragons have not started the season well and sit in fourth place with two wins and three losses. A pair of rookies will take the hill in this one, with the BayStars sending out southpaw Yuya Sakamoto against the Dragons' righty, Yuichiro Okano. Okano, a 26-year-old, was selected third overall in the 2019 NPB Draft and has previously pitched for the Japanese national team in the past.
Yokohama DeNA BayStars Expected Lineup
CF – Takayuki Kajitani
2B – Neftali Soto
RF – Tyler Austin
LF – Keita Sano
1B – Jose Lopez
3B – Toshiro Miyazaki
C – Hikaru Itoh
SS – Yamato Maeda
P – Yuya Sakamoto
Chunichi Dragons Expected Lineup
CF – Yohei Ohshima
RF – Ryosuke Hirata
LF – Zoilo Almonte
1B – Dayan Viciedo
3B – Shuhei Takahashi
2B – Toshiki Abe
SS – Yota Kyoda
C – Takuma Katoh
P – Yuichiro Okano
Top picks
Tyler Austin, BayStars: Austin didn't start the BayStars' first three games
Yokohama DeNA BayStars (3-2) vs Chunichi Dragons (2-3)
Thursday, 25th June, 6:35 AM EDT
Projected starters
LHP Yuya Sakamoto (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs RHP Yuichiro Okano (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Game Preview
The BayStars will go for the sweep Thursday, as they previously defeated the Dragons 3-0 and 3-2 in the first two games of the series. As a result, the home side is pushing towards the top spot in the Central League standings with a 3-2 record, just one game behind the league-leading Yomiuri Giants. Meanwhile, the Dragons have not started the season well and sit in fourth place with two wins and three losses. A pair of rookies will take the hill in this one, with the BayStars sending out southpaw Yuya Sakamoto against the Dragons' righty, Yuichiro Okano. Okano, a 26-year-old, was selected third overall in the 2019 NPB Draft and has previously pitched for the Japanese national team in the past.
Yokohama DeNA BayStars Expected Lineup
CF – Takayuki Kajitani
2B – Neftali Soto
RF – Tyler Austin
LF – Keita Sano
1B – Jose Lopez
3B – Toshiro Miyazaki
C – Hikaru Itoh
SS – Yamato Maeda
P – Yuya Sakamoto
Chunichi Dragons Expected Lineup
CF – Yohei Ohshima
RF – Ryosuke Hirata
LF – Zoilo Almonte
1B – Dayan Viciedo
3B – Shuhei Takahashi
2B – Toshiki Abe
SS – Yota Kyoda
C – Takuma Katoh
P – Yuichiro Okano
Top picks
Tyler Austin, BayStars: Austin didn't start the BayStars' first three games but has been the team's number three hitter in each of the last two contests. The results have been excellent so far, as he has gone 5-for-10 (.500) with only one strikeout. Expect him to be a force from in the heart of the order once again.
Yohei Ohshima, Dragons: Ohshima hits at the top of the order for the Dragons, which makes him worth a look regardless of his performances. Those performances have been great thus far, though, as he started the season on a tear, posting a .429/.478/.524 slash line with two RBI and two walks in his first 24 plate appearances.
Yuya Sakamoto, BayStars: Neither pitcher has any track record in the NPB, as both will be making their league debuts. The southpaw looked solid during pre-season and will aim to prove his worth in this one.
Toshiro Miyazaki, BayStars: Miyazaki might be hitting sixth in the BayStars' lineup, but he has been doing damage to start the season. The third baseman enters this game with a .368 average (7-for-19) while tallying two home runs and nine RBI.
Captaincy Options
1. Tyler Austin
Dream11 Team
P – Yuya Sakamoto
C – Takuya Kinoshita
IF – Toshiro Miyazaki
IF – Neftali Soto
IF – Takehiro Ishikawa
OF – Tyler Austin (C)
OF – Kengo Takeda
OF – Yohei Ohshima (VC)
OF – Takayuki Kajitani
