Preview: Dragons at Swallows, April 3, 2026

TOKYO (Interstat) — The surging Tokyo Yakult Swallows look to continue their perfect start when they host the struggling Chunichi Dragons in a Central League series opener Friday evening at Meiji Jingu Stadium.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. under cloudy skies with a game-time temperature of 56 degrees Fahrenheit (13 degrees Celsius).

The Swallows (5-0) enter as one of the league’s hottest teams, having swept their opening series against Yokohama and taken two of three from Hiroshima, including a 2-1 victory Thursday. Yakult’s pitching has been stellar, allowing three or fewer runs in four of their five wins.

They will send right-hander Yasunobu Okugawa to the mound. Okugawa earned a win Thursday against Hiroshima, allowing one run on three hits over seven innings with five strikeouts.

He will be opposed by Chunichi veteran Yudai Ohno, who is coming off a complete-game shutout performance in a 2-1 win over Yomiuri on Thursday. Ohno scattered four hits and struck out six over nine innings. Despite his effort, the Dragons (1-5) have lost five of their first six games, with their offense averaging just 2.5 runs per contest.

Ohno will need similar brilliance against a Yakult lineup that has provided timely hitting. Second baseman Ryui Itoh drove in both runs in Thursday’s victory.

According to Interstat, the Swallows are heavy favorites with a 58.5% probability to win. Their game simulator projects a 7-1 Yakult victory. The Swallows are installed as a 1.5-run favorite, with an over/under of 6.5 runs.

The series continues Saturday and Sunday in Tokyo before both clubs embark on road trips.