Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (13-8) vs Saitama Seibu Lions (10-9-1)
Wednesday, July 15th, 5:00 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Hideaki Wakui (3-0, 5.29 ERA) vs RHP Tatsuya Imai (1-2, 5.00 ERA)
Game Preview
The series opener between these two teams got postponed, so this will be the beginning of a five-game series – not six as it was previously scheduled. The Golden Eagles sit at the top of the Pacific League standings with a 13-8 record, although they only hold a one-game lead over the Chiba Lotte Marines, so they don't have space to get comfortable by any means. As for the Lions, they sit in third place of the standings with a 10-9-1 record and are just two games behind the Golden Eagles – a good run of results this week could move them up to first place if everything goes right for them. The pitching matchup will feature Hideaki Wakui for the Golden Eagles and Tatsuya Imai for the Lions. The Eagles starter carries a 5.29 ERA and 1.29 WHIP through 17 innings this year, while the Lions hurler has posted a 5.00 ERA and a 10:12 K:BB over 18 innings this season.
Golden Eagles' Expected Lineup
SS – Eigoro Mogi
3B – Daichi Suzuki
DH – Jabari Blash
2B – Hideto Asamura
LF – Hiroaki Shimauchi
RF – Stefen Romero
1B – Ginji Akaminai
C – Hikaru Ohta
CF – Ryosuke Tatsumi
Lions' Expected Lineup
LF – Cory Spangenberg
SS – Sosuke Genda
2B – Shuta Tonosaki
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (13-8) vs Saitama Seibu Lions (10-9-1)
Wednesday, July 15th, 5:00 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Hideaki Wakui (3-0, 5.29 ERA) vs RHP Tatsuya Imai (1-2, 5.00 ERA)
Game Preview
The series opener between these two teams got postponed, so this will be the beginning of a five-game series – not six as it was previously scheduled. The Golden Eagles sit at the top of the Pacific League standings with a 13-8 record, although they only hold a one-game lead over the Chiba Lotte Marines, so they don't have space to get comfortable by any means. As for the Lions, they sit in third place of the standings with a 10-9-1 record and are just two games behind the Golden Eagles – a good run of results this week could move them up to first place if everything goes right for them. The pitching matchup will feature Hideaki Wakui for the Golden Eagles and Tatsuya Imai for the Lions. The Eagles starter carries a 5.29 ERA and 1.29 WHIP through 17 innings this year, while the Lions hurler has posted a 5.00 ERA and a 10:12 K:BB over 18 innings this season.
Golden Eagles' Expected Lineup
SS – Eigoro Mogi
3B – Daichi Suzuki
DH – Jabari Blash
2B – Hideto Asamura
LF – Hiroaki Shimauchi
RF – Stefen Romero
1B – Ginji Akaminai
C – Hikaru Ohta
CF – Ryosuke Tatsumi
Lions' Expected Lineup
LF – Cory Spangenberg
SS – Sosuke Genda
2B – Shuta Tonosaki
1B – Hotaka Yamakawa
C – Tomoya Mori
3B – Takeya Nakamura
DH – Takumi Kuriyama
RF – Seiji Kawagoe
CF – Shohei Suzuki
Top Picks
Stefen Romero, Golden Eagles: Romero has been one of the most consistent hitters in the NPB this season, and the numbers back him up. The right fielder has four home runs with 12 RBI, but he also enters this matchup having hit for .347 with an impressive .427 on-base percentage. He has been an on-base machine for the Golden Eagles in 2020.
Hideto Asamura, Golden Eagles: Asamura could very well challenge Romero for the title of best hitter in the Golden Eagles roster, as he is currently pacing the team in several offensive categories such as home runs (nine) and RBI (28). He is doing it while posting an impressive .329/.430/.747 slash line.
Takumi Kuriyama, Lions: Kuriyama has been one of the most productive hitters in the Lions roster, and he enters this contest second in the team in both home runs (three) and RBI (15) while also ranking second in average – among regular starters – with a .317 mark.
Hotaka Yamakawa, Lions: Yamakawa is expected to start as the team's designated hitter, and there's no question he's been tearing the ball up of late. He paces the Lions in home runs (six) and RBI (20) entering this contest, so he can be a strong bet for sustained offense.
Captaincy Options
Dream11 Team
P – Hideaki Wakui
C – Hikaru Ohta
IF – Hideto Asamura (VC)
IF – Hotaka Yamakawa
IF – Daichi Suzuki
OF – Stefen Romero (C)
OF – Jabari Blash
OF – Takumi Kuriyama
OF – Shohei Suzuki
