BASEBALL PREVIEW: CARP AT BAYSTARS

YOKOHAMA, Japan (Interstat) — The Yokohama BayStars (27-42-3) host the Hiroshima Carp (27-39-3) on Thursday evening at Yokohama Stadium in a Central League matchup between last-place teams.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. under cloudy skies with temperatures near 77 degrees.

The Carp took the opener of this three-game series Tuesday, winning 7-4 behind a strong relief appearance from right-hander Daisuke Moriura, who struck out three over one scoreless inning. Hiroshima has won four of its past five games but remains in fifth place in the six-team Central League.

Yokohama has lost two straight and sits last in the standings, two games behind Hiroshima.

Pitchers to watch

Right-hander Katsuki Azuma (5-4, 2.90 ERA) will start for Yokohama. Azuma took a hard-luck loss Tuesday against Hiroshima despite allowing two earned runs over six innings with five strikeouts. He has quality starts in three of his past four outings.

Moriura will be available out of the Hiroshima bullpen. The right-hander has not allowed an earned run in seven of his past eight appearances, striking out 10 over 7 1/3 innings in that stretch.

Series history

Hiroshima leads the season series 4-2-1, including a 10-0 shutout May 6 at Yokohama Stadium. The teams have split four games in Yokohama, with the Carp winning 8-11 in 12 innings on May 5.

Projections

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 4-2 Hiroshima victory. Interstat’s ELO system gives Yokohama a 57.4 percent probability to win.

Up next

Hiroshima travels to Hanshin for a three-game series starting Friday. Yokohama visits Yakult for three games beginning Friday. The teams meet again July 14 at Hiroshima.