Tokyo Yakult Swallows vs Chiba Lotte Marines @ QVC Marine Field - 18:15
Announced Starters: Yuki Shichijo (YAK) - Takahiro Fujioka (LOT) 3-1, 3.27

Chunichi Dragons vs Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles @ Kleenex Stadium - 18:00
Announced Starters: Yudai Kawai (CHU) 1-1, 3.86 - Kelvin Jimenez (RAK) 2-4, 3.11

Yomiuri Giants

Tetsuya Yamaguchi set a new franchise record by extending his scoreless appearances streak to twenty-one games.  The previous franchise record of twenty was set by Yuya Kubo last season.

Hiroshima Carp

The managers and coaches met after tonight's 6-3 loss to the Softbank Hawks and decided to hold a meeting with players on Thursday.

Yokohama Bay Stars

Giancarlo Alvarado injured his left hamstring while trying to cover first base in the 1st inning of tonight's game against the Nippon Ham Fighters.  Alvarado told coaches he was ok, but he was removed from the game as a precaution.  The Bay Stars also decided to take him off the active roster so that he can focus on getting better.

Softbank Hawks

Sadaharu Oh told reporters today that Hiroki Kokubo was playing through some lower back pains.

Orix Buffaloes

Takahiro Okada will reportedly spend a week in a hospital in Kobe for his left hamstring.  He will also be re-evaluated on May 31.

Rakuten Eagles

The Eagles are offering discounts to all their tickets for Thursday night's make-up game against the Chunichi Dragons.

Chunichi Dragons

Pitching coach Hiroshi Gondo told reporters after Tuesday's game that he thought Maximo Nelson might still be having problems with his right shoulder after watching him throw in the bullpen.

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The Dragons announced today that Toshiya Okada filed marriage papers with a Asaka Tanaka (20) on May 17.

Yakult Swallows

With the rain-out on Tuesday night, the Swallows will now play six in a row, beginning today (rain-out game was re-scheduled to Thursday).  That means the Swallows will need an extra arm for their game on May 28.  Junji Ogawa told reporters on Tuesday that Tatsuyoshi Masubuchi, or some other reliever, could get that start.

Tuesday's starter, Yuki Shichijo, will get Thursday's make-up start.  Shichijo threw about forty pitches in the bullpen on Tuesday.

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The Swallows will be offering ticket packages that include three free beers during twenty-one home games in July, August, and September.  Each set will cost 4,000 yen and include a reserved seat A ticket.  There will be a limit of 150 sets per game.

Yomiuri Giants

Michihiro Ogasawara (left hamstring) is scheduled to play in his first Ni-gun rehab during an upcoming three game series against Yakult that begins on May 29.  Assuming no setbacks, he might be able to make it back to the active roster as early as June 2.

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According to Sponichi: The Giants are 8-0-3 over their last eleven games.  The last time they won eight straight without a loss was in September 2009 when they won ten without a loss.  They have also held the opposition to two or fewer runs over their last eight straight games.  The last time they did that was in 1990 when they held the opposition to two or fewer runs over nine straight.  This is also the first time a CL team started Inter-league play with five straight victories.

Hanshin Tigers

Hiroaki Saiuchi started a Ni-gun game against Orix on Tuesday and gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits over seven innings of work.  He also recorded his first Ni-gun victory of his career.  Final line: 7 IP, 93 NP, 27 BF, 5 H, 1 HR, 5 SO, 1 BB, 2 R, 1 ER.

Nippon Ham Fighters

Terrmel Sledge hit a grand slam off Yokohama's Futoshi Kobayashi on Tuesday night.  That made his the thirteenth player in NPB history to record a homer off all twelve current NPB teams (twenty-third to hit homers against all twelve NPB teams, not including the current Rakuten Eagles).  Of those thirteen players, Sledge is the only one that hit a grand slam against the twelfth team.

Seibu Lions

Hideaki Wakui worked out for about four hours at the Seibu 2 Stadium facilities today.

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Yusei Kikuchi's final numbers from his Ni-gun start against Rakuten on Tuesday:

2 IP, 14 BF, 52 NP, 6 H, 1 HR, 1 SO, 1 BB, 6 R, 5 ER.

Orix Buffaloes

Kyocera Dome gives out 1M yen to players that hit grand slams at the stadium.  Takayoshi Kawabata got his on Tuesday night.

More on the grand slam: Kawabata is the second rookie in franchise history to hit a grand slam for his first Ichi-gun home run; he is the twelfth rookie in the NPB (ninth in the PL) to hit a grand slam for his first Ichi-gun home run; he is the first rookie to hit a grand slam during Inter-league play.

Rakuten Eagles

According to Sponichi, Masahiro Tanaka could re-join the active roster as early as Thursday (dependent on how he is feeling today and whether or not the coaches agree it is the best move).  Sanspo and Nikkan Sports add that Tanaka could get an Ichi-gun start as early as May 30 against the Yomiuri Giants.

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The Eagles are giving away free Inter-league home game tickets to people with Tohoku area last names: Miyagi-san, Iwate-san, Fukushima-san, Akita-san, Aomori-san, and Yamagata-san.

According to Nikkan Sports, thirteen people took advantage of the deal on Tuesday (game was eventually called due to rain): Miyagi-san x 6, Akita-san x 4, Fukushima-san x 2, Yamagata-san x 1.

Central League Updates

Added to the Active Roster

Chunichi Dragons

- Muto, Yuta P

Hanshin Tigers

- Iwata, Minoru P

Hiroshima Carp

- Kawauchi, Takaya P
- Iwamoto, Takahiro OF

Removed from the Active Roster

Chunichi Dragons

- Nelson, Maximo P

Hanshin Tigers

- Lin, Wei-Chu OF

Hiroshima Carp

- Egusa, Hirotaka P
- Aizawa, Tsubasa C

Pacific League Updates

Added to the Active Roster

Softbank Hawks

- Arakaki, Nagisa P

Seibu Lions

- Togame, Ken P

Orix Buffaloes

- Kajimoto, Yusuke INF

Removed from the Active Roster

Softbank Hawks

- Nakanishi, Kenta OF

Seibu Lions

- Kimura, Fumikazu P

Orix Buffaloes

- Okada, Takahiro OF

Chiba Lotte Marines

- Ono, Shingo P

Added to the Roster

Orix Buffaloes

- Scales, Bobby INF

* Players removed from the active roster today can be added back beginning on June 2.

The media learned on Tuesday that Alex Cabrera will be returning to Venezuela to in order to take care of his sick mother.  He is expected to be return to Japan some time early next month.

Cabrera has been working his way back from a right calf injury.  Whether he will be able to return before Inter-league play is unknown.

UPDATE @ 2:52pm - Cabrera is currently scheduled to return to Japan on May 29.

Tokyo Yakult Swallows vs Chiba Lotte Marines @ QVC Marine Field - 18:15
Announced Starters: Katsuki Akagawa (YAK) 3-2, 2.65 - Seth Greisinger (LOT) 4-1, 1.69

Attendance: 17150 | Lotte leads series, 1-0-0 | Time: 2:49

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Hiroshima Toyo Carp vs Fukuoka Softbank Hawks @ Yahoo Dome - 18:00
Announced Starters: Yuki Saito (HIR) 1-1, 2.25 - Nagisa Arakaki (SOF) 3-1, 4.91

Attendance: 36658 | Softbank leads series, 2-0-0 | Time: 2:51

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