OSAKA, Japan (Interstat) — The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters aim to extend their recent dominance over the Orix Buffaloes when the Pacific League rivals meet Sunday evening at Osaka Dome.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. local time.

Nippon-Ham (50-40) enters the contest riding a wave of momentum, having won three straight games against Orix, including a 7-0 shutout Saturday. The Fighters have won eight of the last 10 meetings between the clubs dating to May 1.

Orix (42-42-1) has lost four of its last five games overall and sits at .500 on the season. The Buffaloes have managed just one run in their last three games against Nippon-Ham and have been shut out in four of the last nine matchups.

Sunday’s game features a rematch of Saturday’s starters, with right-hander Haruki Hosono expected to take the mound for the Fighters and right-hander Sean Hjelle scheduled for the Buffaloes.

Hosono was brilliant in Saturday’s win, tossing seven innings of four-hit shutout ball with four strikeouts. The 26-year-old has been sharp recently, allowing just three earned runs over 13 1/3 innings across his last two outings. His lone blemish in that span came July 4 at Rakuten, when he took the loss despite striking out eight over 6 1/3 innings.

Hjelle, in contrast, has struggled mightily against the Fighters. He lasted just five innings Saturday, surrendering three earned runs on seven hits while striking out four in the loss. Over his last three appearances against Nippon-Ham, Hjelle has been tagged for 11 earned runs in 9 1/3 innings, including a disastrous outing June 30 when he gave up nine hits and five earned runs in 2 1/3 innings.

Hjelle’s only quality start in his last five outings came June 23 at SoftBank, when he threw six scoreless, two-hit innings with eight strikeouts in a 5-0 victory.

The Fighters’ offense has been potent against Orix, scoring 26 runs in the last four games between the clubs. Right fielder Chusei Mannami drove in two runs Saturday, going 3-for-5.

Orix’s bullpen has been taxed of late. Relievers Riku Miyaguni and Shota Abe combined to allow four earned runs over four innings Saturday.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, Nippon-Ham holds a projected 55% probability of victory, with a predicted final score of 4-3.

The two teams conclude their three-game series Monday before Nippon-Ham travels to Saitama and Orix visits Fukuoka.