Hiroki Kokubo's lower back is acting up again.  Whether or not he plays on Friday will be determined before the start of the game.

Kokubo felt pain in his lower back during pre-game practice on Wednesday and skipped batting batting and fielding practice.  The pain was so bad, he needed to take painkillers before the game.

"If there was no record, there is no way I played.  Just one more hit.  I can not just sit out.  I forced myself into the line-up," said Kokubo.  "The [painkillers] worked, through to the second at bat."

Kokubo did not take part in practices at Yahoo Dome today and instead got treatment on his lower back.

"[Kokubo's] not in good shape.  He is playing as of now, but we are not certain," said Koji Akiyama.

"How I feel tomorrow will determine whether or not I play," said Kokubo.  "If I am weak spiritually, I will not be able to play.  I have to believe there will be a miracle."

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.

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.

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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Hiroshima Toyo Carp vs Fukuoka Softbank Hawks @ Yahoo Dome - 18:00
Announced Starters: Bryan Bullington (HIR) 2-3, 2.61 - Hiroki Yamada (SOF) 4-3, 2.95

Attendance: 34494 | Softbank leads series, 1-0-0 | Time: 3:27

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Softbank Hawks

Pitching coach Ikuo Takayama sat down with Hiroki Yamada, Nagisa Arakaki, Kenji Otonari, and Sho Iwasaki today and told them that they will be going with a five man starting rotation that includes Tadashi Settsu.  The others will be used to help fill in any gaps.

Nippon Ham Fighters

Keisuke Tanimoto recorded a victory on Saturday on just one pitch and became the thirty-third player in the NPB to accomplish the feat.

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The Fighters will be hosting Player Days on June 16 and 17 (vs Yakult at Sapporo Dome).

Seibu Lions

Voice actress Kaoru Fukuhara will throw out the ceremonial first pitch on June 24 (vs Orix).  She will also be in charge of stadium announcements that day.

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Seibu Recreation announced today that restaurant Shishi at Seibu Dome will be closed until further notice after a customer found a cigarette butt (about four centimeters long) in the curry at the buffet table on Sunday.  There have so far been no reports of customers getting sick.

Orix Buffaloes

Akinobu Okada recorded his ninety-ninth Inter-league managerial victory on Sunday.  That's tops in the NPB history.

Rakuten Eagles

Masahiro Tanaka is still on for his Ni-gun start against Seibu on Tuesday.

Said Tanaka, "I have no worries.  I have not pitched in a month so I do not expect to do well right out of the gate.  I just have to pitch my game. ... Things are improving.  I am no longer in that place where I can not see the end of the tunnel."

Softbank Hawks

Yuichi Honda (neck pain) will most likely make it back to the active roster in time for the Hiroshima series that begins on May 22.

Seibu Lions

Atsushi Okamoto will be demoted to Ni-gun after another rough outing today (0.1 IP, 4 BF, 1 H, 1 HBP, 3 R, 0 ER).  He also committed a throwing error to first that allowed the first of three unearned runs to score (also tied the game at 2-2) and put runners on second and third with just one out.

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The Lions announced their Dream One At Bat Match-ups on Saturday.

May 22 (vs Yomiuri) Kazuhiro Kiyohara vs Katsuhito Mizuno
May 25 (vs Yakult) Hatsuhiko Tsuji vs Kenjiro Kawasaki
June 3 (vs Yokohama) Akio Saito vs Takanori Okamura
June 5 (vs Chunichi) Ken Suzuki vs Shigeki Noguchi
June 14 (vs Hanshin) Hiromichi Ishige vs Koji Noda
June 17 (vs Hiroshima) Koji Yamamoto vs Osamu Higashio

Fukuoka Softbank Hawks vs Yomiuri Giants @ Tokyo Dome - 14:00
Announced Starters: Sho Iwasaki (SOF) 3-4, 2.66 - Hirokazu Sawamura (YOM) 3-3, 1.41

Attendance: 44685 | Yomiuri leads series, 2-0-0 | Time: 2:50

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Softbank Hawks

The Hawks are expected to add Shota Oba to the active roster today in place of Brian Falkenborg.

Ni-gun Stats: 4 G, 1-0, 15 IP, 64 BF, 11 H, 2 HR, 7 BB, 1 HBP, 14 SO, 1 WP, 4 R, 2 ER, 1.20 ERA

Orix Buffaloes

Kei Igawa tweaked his right hamstring during his start on May 9.  He was taken off the active roster the following day.  Since then, Igawa has managed to play some catch but has yet to do any running.  There is also no timetable for when he will be able to toss a bullpen session.

Softbank Hawks

Brian Falkenborg will be traveling with the team while making his way back from right shoulder tightness.  Masahiko Morifuku will likely take over for Falkenborg in the meantime.

Orix Buffaloes

According to Sponichi: Akinobu Okada told reporters that Makoto Moriyama and Shogo Akada are candidates to play center.  Issei Nakamura will likely join the active roster today and could also see some playing time in center.  Lead-off hitters could include Keiji Obiki and Ryoichi Adachi.

Rakuten Eagles

Rookie Yoshinao Kamata will make his first Ichi-gun start on Sunday against the Hanshin Tigers at Koshien.

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Akinori Iwamura could be shifted over to second because Yosuke Takasu and Ginji are currently playing third for the Ichi-gun team.

Iwamura suffered a right hamstring strain in March.  He played in his first rehab game in April and has since gone 12-for-36 (.333/.405/.500) in thirteen Ni-gun games.  Iwamura does have experience at second and would give the Eagles' offense a little more pop from the left-side.

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Sports Hochi notes that Masahiro Tanaka could make his return to the active roster as early as May 30 (vs Yomiuri at Tokyo Dome).  A lot will depend on how Tanaka is feeling after he makes a Ni-gun start against Seibu on May 22.  Bottom line, the Eagles do not want to rush Tanaka back.