Chunichi Dragons (23-26-4) at Tokyo Yakult Swallows (21-24-5)
Thursday, August 20th, 5:00 AM EDT
Projected Starters
Swallows: RHP Hirotoshi Takanashi (1-2, 4.70 ERA)
Dragons: RHP Yuya Yanagi (2-2, 2.10 ERA)
Game Preview
The Dragons have been one of the hottest teams in the Central League and enter this matchup in a four-game winning streak – their solid run of form has catapulted to third place in the standings and, if the season ended today, they would be in the playoffs. The Swallows currently sit in fifth place of the standings and are coming off back-to-back losses, while going 2-3 in their last five contests. The Central League standings are quite tight, however, and either team can sneak in the playoff race with a good run of results. The pitching matchup will feature two righties, although Yuya Yanagi looks like the better alternative of both due to the superior ERA and the fact the Dragons lineup can give him more support offensively.
Injuries
Ryosuke Hirata - Out - Elbow
7/23 1:30 AM IST - The Dragons deactivated Hirata on Monday due to a right elbow injury. One of the Dragons' more reliable batsmen over the past couple of seasons, Hirata was dropped from the active roster after struggling early on in the 2020 campaign. Over 73 plate appearances, Hirata was batting just .164. Masataka Iryo is expected to take over as the Dragons' primary option in right field in Hirata's stead.
Shun Ishikawa - Out - Hand
7/22 1:24 AM
Chunichi Dragons (23-26-4) at Tokyo Yakult Swallows (21-24-5)
Thursday, August 20th, 5:00 AM EDT
Projected Starters
Swallows: RHP Hirotoshi Takanashi (1-2, 4.70 ERA)
Dragons: RHP Yuya Yanagi (2-2, 2.10 ERA)
Game Preview
The Dragons have been one of the hottest teams in the Central League and enter this matchup in a four-game winning streak – their solid run of form has catapulted to third place in the standings and, if the season ended today, they would be in the playoffs. The Swallows currently sit in fifth place of the standings and are coming off back-to-back losses, while going 2-3 in their last five contests. The Central League standings are quite tight, however, and either team can sneak in the playoff race with a good run of results. The pitching matchup will feature two righties, although Yuya Yanagi looks like the better alternative of both due to the superior ERA and the fact the Dragons lineup can give him more support offensively.
Injuries
Ryosuke Hirata - Out - Elbow
7/23 1:30 AM IST - The Dragons deactivated Hirata on Monday due to a right elbow injury. One of the Dragons' more reliable batsmen over the past couple of seasons, Hirata was dropped from the active roster after struggling early on in the 2020 campaign. Over 73 plate appearances, Hirata was batting just .164. Masataka Iryo is expected to take over as the Dragons' primary option in right field in Hirata's stead.
Shun Ishikawa - Out - Hand
7/22 1:24 AM IST - Ishikawa was removed from the Dragons' active roster ahead of Tuesday's 4-0 loss to the Giants due to cartilage damage in his left hand. The Dragons have yet to announce a timeline for Ishikawa's potential return to the active roster. The 30-year-old corner infielder has appeared in 11 games for Chunichi in 2020, going 3-for-10 with a triple and two RBI.
Shotaro Kasahara - Out - Oblique
7/31 3:09 AM IST - Kasahara was diagnosed with a right oblique injury Saturday and has been ruled out indefinitely. Oblique injuries often carry volatile timetables, but it's probably safe to expect the left-hander to be sidelined for multiple weeks. He went 3-2 over his eight outings with the Dragons this season, posting a 5.71 ERA in 34.2 innings.
Yuhei Nakamura - Out - Undisclosed
6/20 10:09 AM IST - Nakamura was removed from the Yakult Swallows' roster Friday due to an undisclosed injury, BaseballKings reports. Nakamura didn't appear in the team's season opener, and he'll now miss time with an injury, although it's unclear how long he'll be sidelined. Nakamura appeared in 126 games last season, logging a .269 batting average with five home runs and 36 RBI. Suguru Ino was promoted in a corresponding move.
Yasutaka Shiomi - Out - Undisclosed
8/13 2:41 AM IST - The Swallows deactivated Shiomi on Wednesday due an undisclosed reason, Jim Allen of JBallAllen.com reports. The 27-year-old outfielder has been productive in a limited sample of 57 plate appearances this season, batting .294 with five home runs and three stolen bases. It's unclear when Shiomi might be ready to resume playing for the Swallows.
Albert Suarez - Out - Not Injury Related
7/10 5:49 AM IST - The Swallows deactivated Suarez on Wednesday, Jim Allen of JBallAllen.com reports. Though the right-hander is sitting on a microscopic 0.53 ERA through three starts, the Swallows want Suarez to hit the reset button and work on his mechanics after he walked seven batters in Tuesday's win over the Dragons. The Swallows replaced Suarez on the active roster with lefty Keiji Suzuki, but it's not expected that the 30-year-old will miss more than one turn through the rotation.
Tokyo Yakult Swallows Expected Lineup
6. Yuhei Takai
Chunichi Dragons Expected Lineup
3. Toshiki Abe
6. Yota Kyoda
7. Takuma Katoh
Top Picks From Each Team
Dayan Viciedo, Dragons: Viciedo has been one of the top hitters in the Dragons roster, and the numbers back that up. Viciedo is hitting .286 with a .843 OPS, but he has 12 home runs and 43 RBI. Those numbers could lead any offense, and that has been the case with the Dragons in 2020.
Munetaka Murakami, Swallows: Murakami has eight home runs this season while producing 43 RBI – he leads the team in both categories while also slashing .328/.435/.556 in 216 plate appearances. He is, without a doubt, the key cog in the Swallows offense.
Captaincy Options
Dream11 Team
P – Yuya Yanagi
C – Suguru Ino
IF – Dayan Viciedo (C)
IF – Toshiki Abe
IF – Munetaka Murakami (VC)
OF – Yohei Ohshima
OF – Kengo Takeda
OF – Zoilo Almonte
OF – Norichika Aoki
