AP Sports Preview

SENDAI, Japan (Interstat) — The Orix Buffaloes visit the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles on Tuesday evening at Kleenex Stadium Miyagi, with first pitch set under a forecast of 75-degree rain.

Orix (42-38-2) enters having won three of its last four games, including a 7-2 victory Sunday at Chiba Lotte. Right-hander Anderson Espinoza (W, 7-2) earned the win in that contest, striking out four over seven innings while allowing two earned runs. Espinoza has been sharp in his last two starts, both wins, and previously faced Rakuten on June 27, taking a 5-1 loss despite striking out eight over six innings.

Rakuten (31-49-1) has lost four of its last five games. On Sunday, the Golden Eagles fell 3-0 at SoftBank. Right-hander Tatsuki Koja took the loss, allowing three earned runs over six innings with six strikeouts. Koja will be making his second start since returning from the injured list and will look to build on an otherwise solid outing.

The teams have split their 2026 season series. Rakuten won three of the last five meetings, including a 5-1 victory June 27. Orix answered with a 5-2 win the next day.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 4-3 Orix victory, with the Buffaloes holding a 54.7 percent win probability.

The three-game series continues Wednesday and Thursday before Orix returns home to face Nippon Ham. Rakuten hosts Seibu next weekend.