NAGOYA, Japan (Interstat) — The Hiroshima Carp and Chunichi Dragons, two teams mired near the bottom of the Central League standings, open a weekend series Saturday night at Nagoya Dome. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Hiroshima enters with a 30-42-4 record, while Chunichi is 31-48-3. The Carp took two of three from the Dragons in Nagoya in late May, but Chunichi responded with a 10-1 rout Friday in the most recent meeting between the clubs.

The Dragons have won three of the last four head-to-head games, though the overall season series is tightly contested.

Carp outfielder Sandro Fabian is a player to watch. The 28-year-old hit a solo home run and drove in a run in Friday’s loss, going 1 for 4. Over his last 10 games, Fabian has three home runs and four RBIs, with hits in four of his last six contests. He has shown power in sporadic at-bats but has struggled with consistency, going hitless in five of his last 10 appearances.

For Chunichi, right-hander Yudai Ohno is expected to take the mound. Ohno earned the win Friday against Hiroshima, throwing seven innings of three-hit ball, allowing one earned run and striking out four. It was his second victory over the Carp this season. In his previous start July 3 against Yomiuri, Ohno threw eight scoreless innings with seven strikeouts in a 1-0 win. Over three starts in his last 10 games, Ohno has a 1.64 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 22 innings.

Chunichi’s offense erupted Friday with 10 runs on 12 hits, led by Takaya Ishikawa (3 for 5, two RBIs) and catcher Yuta Ishii (2 for 4, two RBIs). The Dragons have won four of their last six games.

Hiroshima, meanwhile, has lost three of four, including a 1-0 shutout Thursday against Yakult. The Carp’s pitching has been inconsistent; starter Masato Morishita allowed five earned runs in five innings Friday.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 5-4 victory for Hiroshima, while Interstat’s ELO system gives Chunichi a 53.2 percent probability to win. The model suggests a close contest despite the wide disparity in Friday’s result.

Both teams continue the series Sunday before heading into the All-Star break. Hiroshima travels to Yokohama on Tuesday, while Chunichi hosts Hanshin on Tuesday.