This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy NPB series.
Chunichi Dragons (7-8) vs Tokyo Yakult Swallows (7-7)
Tuesday, July 7th, 5:00 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Yuya Yanagi (1-1, 2.08 ERA) vs RHP Albert Suarez (2-0, 0.82 ERA)
Game Preview
The Swallows and the Dragons sit in third and fourth place of the Central League standings, respectively, and it seems these two franchises will battle it out during most of the season for the third and final spot in the CL playoffs. Both teams enter this tie in almost equal runs of form – both have won three of their last five contests while also going 1-2 over their last three. Perhaps the lone difference is the fact that the Dragons avoided the sweep against the Giants on Sunday, while the Swallows couldn't win the series against the BayStars following Sunday's defeat. The pitching matchup faces Yuya Yanagi against Albert Suarez. The Dragons' righty has gone 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in 13 innings this season, while the Venezuelan right-hander has been even better for the Swallows and owns a 0.82 ERA so far following his first two outings.
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 – Yuya Yanagi
Swallows' Expected Lineup
1B – Tomotaka Sakaguchi
2B – Tetsuto Yamada
LF – Norichika Aoki
3B – Munetaka Murakami
CF – Yasutaka Shiomi
RF – Yuhei Takai
SS – Alcides
