SENDAI, Japan (Interstat) — The Orix Buffaloes and Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles will meet in the rubber match of their three-game series Sunday evening at Kleenex Stadium Miyagi, with both teams looking to move above .500 in the early Pacific League season.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. under cloudy skies with a temperature near 61 degrees Fahrenheit (16 Celsius).

The series is tied after a scoreless pitchers’ duel Friday and an 11-4 Rakuten victory Saturday. The Golden Eagles (6-6) battered Orix pitching for 15 hits in the win, while the Buffaloes (7-6) managed just four, one being a two-run homer from pinch-hitter Yusuke Mugitani.

Mugitani, a player to watch for Orix, is expected to be in the lineup after his impactful performance. He is 1 for his last 10, but the home run Saturday provided a spark.

Rakuten will look to carry its offensive momentum forward. A key performer Saturday was starter Takahisa Hayakawa, who delivered seven strong innings, allowing one earned run on three hits with five strikeouts. His outing provided crucial rest for the bullpen.

The head-to-head season series stands at 3-2 in favor of Orix, though Rakuten has outscored the Buffaloes 25-19 across those five games.

According to Interstat’s projections, Orix holds a slight edge. The game simulator predicts a 6-3 Buffaloes victory, and the ELO rating system gives Orix a 50.30% probability to win.

Following Sunday’s contest, both clubs embark on extended road trips. Orix heads home to face the Saitama Seibu Lions for three games beginning Tuesday before a six-game trip to Fukuoka and Chiba. Rakuten travels for a three-game set against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks starting Tuesday, then returns home to host the Chiba Lotte Marines next weekend.