Preview: Swallows, Giants Open Series at Tokyo Dome

TOKYO (Interstat) — The Central League-leading Tokyo Yakult Swallows visit the Yomiuri Giants on Friday night to open a three-game series at Tokyo Dome.

The Swallows (8-3) enter with the league’s best record but are looking to rebound after a 2-0 loss in seven innings to the Hanshin Tigers on Thursday. Yakult’s offense was quiet, managing just three hits.

Yomiuri (6-5) arrives home after a 2-1, eight-inning win at Hiroshima on Wednesday. Shortstop Yuta Izuguchi led the way, going 3 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs.

A key matchup features two veteran right-handers. Yakult’s Yasunobu Okugawa (1-1, 2.25 ERA) takes the mound. He pitched well in a hard-luck loss Thursday, allowing two runs over five innings with six strikeouts against Hanshin. In his previous start April 2, he threw seven strong innings in a 2-1 win over Hiroshima.

He’ll be opposed by Yomiuri’s Masahiro Tanaka (2-0, 1.20 ERA). Tanaka was brilliant in his last outing Wednesday, firing seven scoreless innings with five strikeouts in the win over the Carp.

Despite the Giants’ slightly lower winning percentage, statistical models show a tight contest. Interstat’s ELO system gives Yomiuri a 55.7% probability to win. However, the same service’s game simulator projects a high-scoring 8-4 Yakult victory. Betting markets list the Swallows as a -1.5 run favorite with an over/under of 5.5 runs.

The series continues Saturday and Sunday in Tokyo before the teams meet again for a three-game set next weekend at Yakult’s home park.