Yomiuri Giants

Yoshinobu Takahashi (left calf strain) was slated to be a DH in a Ni-gun against Nippon Ham today, but the game was rained out.  Whether this changes his schedule is unknown.  As of yesterday, he was set to re-join Ichi-gun workouts on the 18th.

Source: Sanspo 6/12/2013, Daily Sports 6/12/2013, Nikkan Sports 6/12/2013

Hiroshima Carp

Kenta Maeda (right side) is currently slated to return to the active roster in time for a start against Nippon Ham on the 15th.  Bryan Bullington (right lower back) should be ok to start the Nippon Ham game on the following day (16th).

Source: Nikkan Sports 6/12/2013

Hanshin Tigers

Kosuke Fukudome (coming off left knee surgery) worked out at Naruohama on Tuesday.  For now, it seems he will require about three months for a full recovery.  He also stopped using crutches on the Tuesday.

Source: Sanspo 6/12/2013, Nikkan Sports 6/12/2013

Chiba Lotte Marines

Tomoya Satozaki (right shoulder, right calf) could return to the active roster when regular season play resumes on the 21st.

Source: Daily Sports 6/12/2013

Yokohama Bay Stars vs Chiba Lotte Marines @ QVC Marine Field - 18:15
Starters: Miura, Daisuke (YOK) 3-5, 3.53 - Nishino, Yuji (LOT) 6-1, 2.31

Attendance: 12146 | Time: 2h58m | Lotte leads series, 2-1-0

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According to a number of reports, Tsutomu Ito wants the team to secure another foreign player.  Daily Sports mentions a right-handed starter while Sponichi figures a starter or a power bat.  Right now, the only foreign player on the active roster is Carlos Rosa.  The others -- Dicky Gonzalez, Seth Greisinger, Wil Ledezma, and Josh Whitesell -- have not managed to secure spots at Ichi-gun for one reason or another.

Nikkan Sports notes that the Marines are looking into what is currently available, both domestically (trade) and internationally (foreign players).

Sports Hochi adds that Lotte is also interested in Alex Ramirez and is currently discussing trade possibilities with the Yokohama Bay Stars.  Ramirez has been spending more time as a bat off the bench over the last couple of months because he can be a liability on defense.  A move to the Pacific League would allow him to focus on hitting, which could work to his benefit.

Source: Sanspo 6/11/2013, Daily Sports 6/11/2013, Sponichi 6/11/2013, Nikkan Sports 6/11/2013, Sports Hochi 6/11/2013

Nippon Ham Fighters

1st round draft pick Shohei Otani is scheduled to throw about 110 pitches during his Ni-gum start against Yomiuri on the 11th.

Source: Sponichi 6/10/2013

Otani is the first player in the NPB to record ten or more doubles in his rookie season since Kazuyoshi Tatsunami hit fifteen in 1988 and the first in the PL since Kazuhiro Kiyohara hit eighteen in 1986.  The NPB record of twenty-four was set by Kihachi Enomoto in 1955.

Source: Sports Hochi 6/10/2013, Daily Sports 6/10/2013

Seibu Lions

Yusei Kikuchi threw fifty-two pitches in the bullpen today in preparation for his next start on the 12th against Chunichi.

Source: Nikkan Sports 6/10/2013

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1st round draft pick Tatsushi Masuda worked out with Ichi-gun pitchers today and threw thirty-seven pitches in the bullpen.  He will practice with the Ichi-gun team again on Tuesday and could be added to the active roster depending on how well things go.

Source: Sanspo 6/10/2013

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Voice actresses Kaori Fukuhara and Emiri Kato are scheduled to participate in the ceremonial first pitch on June 23 (vs Orix at Seibu Dome).

Source: official announcement, Nikkan Sports 6/10/2013

Softbank Hawks

According to the New York Times, the Hawks were interested in Alex Rodriguez last winter.

Source: NY Times 6/9/2013

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Masahiko Morifuku was taken off the active roster today because he has not been pitching well.  Brian Falkenborg will most likely be called up.

Source: Sponichi 6/10/2013

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The Hawks might consider giving another pitcher a look at closer after Sho Iwasaki gave up two runs over an inning of work on the 8th.  Iwasaki did follow up that outing with a shutout inning on the 9th.

If the Hawks decide to make a change, candidates could include Kodai Senga and Ryota Igarashi.

Source: Nikkan Sports 6/10/2013

Rakuten Eagles

Masahiro Tanaka set a new franchise record on Sunday by starting the season with an eight-game winning streak.  The previous record of seven was set by Tanaka and Kazuo Fukumori in 2009.  Tanaka also tied the franchise record for winning streaks at any point during the season, set twice by Hisashi Iwakuma in 2008.

Tanaka improved to 20-6 during Inter-league play.

Source: Sponichi 6/10/2013

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Toshiya Nakashima hit the ninth home run of his career off Tetsuya Utsumi on Sunday.  He also hit his first career home run off Utsumi on May 28, 2008.

Source: Sponichi 6/10/2013

Chiba Lotte Marines

Orion Beer girl Emi Nashiro is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch on the 15th (vs Chunichi).  Former pro boxer Yoko Gushiken will stand in the batter's box.

Source: Daily Sports 6/10/2013

Chiba Lotte Marines vs Hanshin Tigers @ Koshien Stadium - 14:00
Starters: Omine, Yuta (LOT) 3-1, 2.37 - Fujinami, Shintaro (HAN) 4-1, 2.14

Attendance: 46429 | Time: 4h21m | Hanshin leads series, 3-0-1

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Chiba Lotte Marines vs Hanshin Tigers @ Koshien Stadium - 14:00
Starters: Naruse, Yoshihisa (LOT) 6-1, 2.11 - Nomi, Atsushi (HAN) 5-2, 2.70

Attendance: 46259 | Time: 2h57m | Hanshin leads series, 2-0-1

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Chiba Lotte Marines vs Hiroshima Carp @ Onomichi Stadium - 18:00
Starters: Karakawa, Yuki (LOT) 3-3, 3.88 - Bullington, Bryan (HIR) 2-5, 2.57

Attendance: 9525 | Time: 2h44m | Lotte leads series, 3-1-0

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Chiba Lotte Marines vs Hiroshima Carp @ Mazda Stadium - 18:00
Starters: Abe, Kazunari (LOT) 2-0, 3.52 - Otake, Kan (HIR) 5-2, 2.33

Attendance: 20033 | Time: 3h40m | Lotte leads series, 3-0-0

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Through 6/11/2013

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June 5 - Abe [announced]
June 6 - Karakawa [announced]
June 8 - Naruse [announced]
June 9 - Omine [Sanspo 6/4/2013, announced]
June 12 - Nishino [Sanspo 6/4/2013, announced]
June 13 - Karakawa [announced]
June 14 (rainout make-up) - Karakawa [announced]
June 15 - Naruse [announced]
June 26 - Omine [announced]

Last update: 6/15/2013 @ 10:30pm

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Notes

The chart at the top will be updated at least once a week and can be useful for predicting future probable starters.  Dates beneath numbers indicate date of last start for that day of the week.  More concrete information will be added as it becomes available.

Yakult Swallows vs Chiba Lotte Marines @ QVC Marine Field - 18:15
Starters: Yagi, Ryosuke (YAK) 1-4, 2.53 - Nishino, Yuji (LOT) 5-1, 2.62

Tokyo Yakult Swallows 0 - Chiba Lotte Marines 4 (June 3, 2013)

Attendance: 12442 | Time: 2h58m | Yakult leads series, 3-1-0

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