Preview: BayStars at Giants

TOKYO (Interstat) — The Yokohama BayStars visit the Yomiuri Giants on Friday night at Tokyo Dome in a clash of Central League rivals separated by a half-game in the standings.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday.

Yomiuri (20-18) holds a narrow edge in the season series, winning four of six meetings. The Giants took two of three in Yokohama from April 24-26, including a 4-1 victory in the series finale. The BayStars (19-17-2) have been inconsistent, alternating wins and losses over their past six games.

Yokohama’s Taisei Irie is a key player to watch. The right-hander tossed six shutout innings with nine strikeouts in a no-decision against Chunichi on Thursday, a 0-0 tie suspended after 12 innings. Irie also earned a win May 13, working six innings of two-hit ball with nine strikeouts in a 3-0 victory over the Dragons. At the plate, Irie went 1 for 2 with two RBIs in a loss at Yakult on May 2.

For Yomiuri, right-hander Takahiro Norimoto is the pitcher to watch. Norimoto threw seven shutout innings with seven strikeouts in a 4-2 win over Hiroshima on Wednesday. He also earned a victory April 21 against Chunichi, allowing one earned run over five innings. Norimoto, a two-way player, is 1 for 3 at the plate in his past three appearances.

Yomiuri has won three of its past four games, while Yokohama is 2-2-2 in its past six.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, the BayStars are projected to win 5-3. Interstat’s ELO system gives Yokohama a 50.4% probability of victory.

Yomiuri opens as a 1.5-run favorite, with the over/under set at 6.0.

The game is the first of a three-game series. The teams will play again Saturday and Sunday at Tokyo Dome.