OSAKA, Japan (Interstat) — The Orix Buffaloes host the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles on Sunday at Osaka Dome in the first game of a two-game series, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.

Orix (37-33-1) enters the evening contest holding second place in the Pacific League, while Rakuten (27-42-1) sits near the bottom of the standings. The Buffaloes hold a 60.5 percent probability to win, according to Interstat’s ELO system, which projects a 5-4 final score.

Right-hander Takayuki Kishi (2-1 in his last three starts) will take the mound for the Golden Eagles. Kishi earned a win Saturday against Orix, allowing one earned run on three hits over seven innings with three strikeouts in a 5-1 victory. He also threw seven innings of one-run ball against Hiroshima on June 12, striking out five, but lasted only five innings in a June 5 loss at Hanshin, surrendering two earned runs on three hits.

Right-hander Anderson Espinoza (2-2 in his last four starts) will start for Orix. Espinoza took the loss Saturday against Rakuten, giving up two earned runs on seven hits over six innings with eight strikeouts. He earned a win June 19 against Seibu despite allowing five earned runs on seven hits in six innings, and threw seven scoreless innings June 11 against Yakult, scattering four hits and striking out five.

Rakuten snapped a five-game losing streak with Saturday’s 5-1 win at Osaka Dome. Catcher Kengo Horiuchi went 2-for-2 with an RBI, and reliever Ryu Kutani pitched a scoreless inning with two strikeouts. The Golden Eagles had dropped five of their previous six games before Saturday.

Orix had won four of its previous five games before Saturday’s loss, including a 5-0 shutout of Fukuoka Softbank on June 23. Shortstop Kotaro Kurebayashi homered and drove in a run Saturday for the Buffaloes.

The teams have split their eight meetings this season, with Rakuten winning five of the last six. Orix won the series opener March 28 by a 6-0 score, and the clubs played to a 0-0 tie April 10.

Rakuten visits Chiba Lotte on Tuesday to begin a two-game set. Orix travels to Hokkaido Nippon Ham on Tuesday for a three-game series.