Preview: Buffaloes, Fighters Open Series in Sapporo

SAPPORO, Japan (Interstat) — The hot-starting Orix Buffaloes visit the struggling Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters to open a three-game series Friday night at Sapporo Dome.

The Pacific League clash features teams trending in opposite directions. Orix (4-2) arrives having won four of its last five, including a 7-3 victory at Seibu on Thursday. The Fighters (2-4) have dropped four of six but are coming off a strong 7-1 home win over Lotte.

A key matchup will be Orix’s surging offense against Nippon-Ham’s pitching. Buffaloes center fielder Keita Nakagawa is a primary catalyst, batting .333 (7-for-21) with two home runs and nine RBIs over his last six games. He went 3 for 4 with a homer and three RBIs in Thursday’s win.

The Fighters will counter with momentum from their own Thursday performance, where starter Takayuki Katoh delivered six shutout innings, allowing four hits and striking out five. His outing provided a much-needed stabilizer for a staff that has been inconsistent early.

Orix’s lineup showed depth in the Seibu series, with first baseman Ryo Ohta adding two RBIs on Thursday. The Buffaloes have scored 25 runs over their last three victories.

Nippon-Ham’s offense broke out Thursday behind Taiki Narama and Yushi Shimizu, who each homered and drove in two runs. Replicating that support will be crucial against an Orix team that has held opponents to three runs or fewer in three of its wins.

Despite Orix’s better record, statistical models show a tight contest. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 4-3 Orix victory, while its ELO rating system gives the Fighters a 57.8% probability to win.

The series continues Saturday and Sunday in Sapporo before both clubs embark on extended road trips next week.