Preview: Carp, Dragons Meet in Nagoya After Split of Recent Series

NAGOYA, Japan (Interstat) — The Hiroshima Carp and Chunichi Dragons, Central League rivals seeking momentum, continue their series Wednesday night at Nagoya Dome.

The Dragons (4-11) evened the set with a 6-2 win Tuesday, snapping a three-game losing streak to the Carp (5-8) this season. The teams have split their last four meetings.

Hiroshima has lost seven of its last eight games overall. Second baseman Ryosuke Kikuchi has been a bright spot, collecting hits in four of his last five contests. He drove in both runs in Tuesday’s loss, going 2 for 4.

Chunichi’s victory was fueled by a strong start from right-hander Yumeto Kanemaru, who allowed two runs over 7 1/3 innings with eight strikeouts. He is expected to be a key figure for the Dragons moving forward.

Despite the Dragons’ recent win, Interstat’s game simulator projects a 3-2 victory for the Carp in Wednesday’s matchup. However, the same outlet’s ELO rating system gives Chunichi a slight edge, with a 52.2% probability to win.

Both clubs are near the bottom of the early Central League standings. Following this game, Hiroshima returns home Friday to start a three-game series with the Yokohama BayStars. Chunichi hits the road for a three-game set against the Hanshin Tigers, also beginning Friday.