Dream11 Fantasy NPB: Buffaloes at Golden Eagles

ORIX Buffaloes (21-40-5) at Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (33-30-3)

Saturday, September 5th, 1:00 AM EDT

Projected Starters

Golden Eagles: TBA

Buffaloes: TBA

Game Preview

The Buffaloes and the Golden Eagles are moving in opposite directions this season. While the Golden Eagles are in third place of the standings and firmly entrenched in the battle for a playoff berth, the Buffaloes are sitting dead last in the Pacific League standings and might very well start thinking about what they'll do in the 2021 season. When looking at the recent form, however, both teams have won just two of their last five contests. so both are in dire need of improvements – and soon. Neither team has announced its starting pitcher for this contest.

Injuries

Motoki Higa - Out - Biceps

7/9 4:26 AM IST - Higa was removed from the Buffaloes roster Wednesday due to an injury to his left biceps muscle, Full-Count.jp reports. Higa is a right-handed pitcher for Orix, so while his biceps issue appears fairly concerning, it's somewhat of a relief that the injury is to his non-throwing arm. The 37-year-old has been a trusted member of the Buffaloes bullpen so far during the young season, appearing in eight games and recording four holds while having yet to allow a run.

Shoki Katsumata - Out - Orbital

7/23 1:17 AM IST - Katsumata was diagnosed Wednesday with a orbital floor fracture of his right eye, Full-Count.jp reports. Katsumata sustained the injury after being hit in the eye during a defensive drill with the Buffaloes' minor-league affiliate. The 23-year-old appeared in three games with Orix earlier this season, going 0-for-4 at the dish in those contests.

Aderlin Rodriguez - Out - Forearm

7/31 1:35 AM IST - The Buffaloes deactivated Rodriguez on Thursday after he suffered a left forearm contusion in Wednesday's game against the Fighters, Jim Allen of JBallAllen.com reports. Rodriguez was credited with a game-tying RBI when he was hit by the pitch, but it came at a costly price. While Rodriguez was fortunate that X-rays cleared him of any structural damage to his forearm, he'll still be shut down for a few days while he looks to shake off the bruise. Rodriguez is batting .223 with five home runs and 19 RBI across 142 plate appearances on the season.

Taisuke Yamaoka - Out - Oblique

6/27 9:58 AM IST - Yamaoka (oblique) was diagnosed with muscle damage and will likely miss some time as a result of his injury from Friday's loss to the Marines, Baseball King reports. The right-hander exited Friday's start after just three pitches after experiencing left flank discomfort, and he underwent an MRI on Friday that revealed "muscle damage of the left internal oblique muscle." Yamaoka will be sidelined until at least July 7, but it's unclear whether he'll have to miss any additional time afterwards.

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles Expected Lineup

1. Eigoro Mogi

2. Daichi Suzuki

3. Jabari Blash

4. Hideto Asamura

5. Hiroaki Shimauchi

6. Stefen Romero

7. Ginji Akaminai

8. Hikaru Ohta

9. Ryosuke Tatsumi

Orix Buffaloes Expected Lineup

1. Takahiro Okada

2. Aderlin Rodriguez

3. Masataka Yoshida

4. Adam Jones

5. Keita Nakagawa

6. Koji Ohshiro

7. Kenya Wakatsuki

8. Ryoichi Adachi

9. Shunta Gotoh

Top Picks / Captaincy Options

1. Hideto Asamura – Golden Eagles
2. Jabari Blash – Golden Eagles
3. Adam Jones - Buffaloes
4. Stefen Romero – Golden Eagles

Dream11 Team

P – Yaku Cho

C – Hikaru Ohta

IF – Eigoro Mogi

IF – Hideto Asamura (C)

IF – Ginji Akaminai

OF – Stefen Romero

OF – Jabari Blash (VC)

OF – Adam Jones

OF – Masataka Yoshida