NAGOYA, Japan (Interstat) — The Hiroshima Carp open a three-game series Tuesday night at Nagoya Dome against the Chunichi Dragons, a matchup of two Central League teams well below .500.

Hiroshima enters at 47-63-4 after beating Yakult 5-1 on Sunday to snap a three-game losing streak. Chunichi is 51-69-3 and has lost four straight, most recently falling 4-3 at Yokohama on Sunday. Chunichi’s last win came Aug. 26 against Hanshin.

The season series has belonged to Hiroshima. The Carp have won seven of 10 meetings, including a three-game sweep in Hiroshima from Aug. 18-20. At Nagoya Dome, though, the teams have split four games this season.

One player to watch for Hiroshima is Shohei Mori. In Sunday’s win, Mori threw 6 1/3 innings, allowing one earned run on four hits and striking out three. He also went 0 for 1 at the plate. Mori gave up one earned run in five innings at Yomiuri on Aug. 23 and struck out eight over seven innings against Yomiuri on Aug. 5, though he allowed three earned runs. Hanshin touched him for four earned runs in 6-plus innings on Aug. 16. Relievers Daisuke Moriura and Taichi Taka each threw a scoreless inning Sunday to help preserve the victory.

For Chunichi, Yuya Yanagi is the key player. Against Yokohama on Sunday, Yanagi allowed two earned runs on seven hits over six innings and struck out seven, but did not factor in the decision. He also allowed two earned runs in six innings against Yakult on Aug. 23, and he gave up one earned run in seven innings vs. Yomiuri on Aug. 16, when he had a hit in two at-bats. Seiya Yoshida and Yuki Hashimoto each followed with a scoreless inning Sunday, but Chunichi’s offense could not rally.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 5-4 Chunichi victory. Interstat’s ELO system gives the Dragons a 55.6 percent chance to win. That projects a narrow home edge despite Hiroshima’s head-to-head dominance this season.

The teams play again Wednesday and Thursday at Nagoya Dome. Hiroshima then returns home for a weekend series against Yomiuri, while Chunichi travels to Tokyo to face Yakult. With both clubs out of playoff contention, these September games are about finishing strong and evaluating young players. Mori and Yanagi have been bright spots on their staffs, and each will be central to his team’s chances as the series begins.