A head-to-head showdown between the first and second-place teams. Both have ERA in the single digits, with Tomohisa Ozeki and Koki Kitayama pitching against each other. | Pacific League

A direct showdown between the first and second place teams. Tomohisa Ozeki and Koki Kitayama, both with ERA in the single digits, are dueling.

Pacific League Insight

2025.9.17(水) 22:50

From 6pm on September 18th, the 24th round of Fukuoka Softbank vs. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham will be held on MIZUHO PayPay Dome.

【Head-to-Head Record】Fukuoka Softbank (1st place) vs. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham (2nd place) 12-11

【Advance Starter】
Fukuoka Softbank: Tomohisa Ozeki pitcher 22 matches, 12 wins, 5 losses, ERA 1.70 (3rd)
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham: Koki Kitayama pitcher 9 wins, 5 losses in 20 matches, ERA 1.72 (4th)

Fukuoka Softbank of the winning magic “9” is started by Tomohisa Ozeki pitcher. In his last appearance (11th, Chiba Lotte game), he went 30 pitches with 5 hit 4 runs (earned runs 2 lose pitcher) in 2 innings, but this season, he has appeared in 2 games in Hokkaido Nippon-Ham games and has a good match with 1 win and 0 losses and a ERA of 1.38. I want to take advantage of our good chemistry and contribute to win with a stable pitch in this game.

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham will start Koki Kitayama pitcher. In his last appearance (11th, Orix game), he won his 9th win with 6 innings, 87 pitches, 6 hit 3 Walk 4 strike out 3 runs. Fukuoka Softbank is the first match since August 22nd, when 5.2 innings were combined into 3 runs, even if there was no win or loss. It will be an important match for the team that cannot be lost, but he wants to create a game with good pitching and achieve his first double-digit win.

Text: Rihoko Niwa

・ Pacific League standings /individual results