According to Sponichi: Tsuyoshi Wada and Toshiya Sugiuchi probably won't be going to the Asia Series -- Wada wants rest and Sugiuchi is still recovering from some left shoulder pains.  D.J. Houlton is scheduled to return to the US today.  That leaves Tadashi Settsu and Hiroki Yamada as the only Nippon Series starters that will probably be available for the Asia Series.

Nobuhiko Matsunaka (right knee) and Hiroki Kokubo (back, neck) will be missing the Asia Series because of injuries.