Preview: Hanshin Tigers at Yomiuri Giants

TOKYO (Interstat) — The Hanshin Tigers will look to even the season series and their record Saturday night when they visit the Yomiuri Giants at Tokyo Dome.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. local time on March 28, 2026, in the second game of a three-game weekend set. The Giants (1-0) took the opener 3-1 on Friday behind a strong pitching performance.

The matchup features a quick rematch on the mound. Hanshin’s Shoki Murakami (0-1, 4.50 ERA) is set to start after taking the loss Friday, allowing three earned runs on five hits over six innings while striking out seven. Yomiuri will counter with Kazuyuki Takemaru (1-0, 1.50 ERA), who earned the win in that same game by holding the Tigers to one run on three hits across six frames.

Both pitchers also went hitless in their lone at-bat in the opener, a game defined by pitching. Hanshin relievers Takuma Kirishiki and Atsuki Yuasa combined for two scoreless innings Friday, while Yomiuri’s Eito Tanaka and Hiromasa Funabasama did the same to secure the win.

Despite the opening loss, projections favor the Tigers. Interstat’s game simulator predicts a 4-3 Hanshin victory, and its ELO rating system gives the Tigers a 57.40% probability to win.

Hanshin (0-1) aims to avoid an early two-game deficit in the storied Central League rivalry. Following Sunday’s series finale, the Tigers return home to host the Yokohama BayStars for three games starting Tuesday. The Giants embark on a six-game road trip after Sunday, beginning with a three-game series against the Chunichi Dragons in Nagoya.