This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy NPB series.
Saitama Seibu Lions (17-17) at Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (21-15-1)
Saturday, August 1st, 1:00 AM EDT
Projected Starters
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks: RHP Shuta Ishikawa (3-0, 3.14 ERA)
Saitama Seibu Lions: RHP Keisuke Honda (0-2, 2.87 ERA)
Game Preview
The Hawks have been on a roll of late, and they enter this game on the heels of a 4-1 record during the last five games. As a result, they have climbed to the top of the Pacific League standings. The Lions have dealt with inconsistencies, and have gone 2-3 in their last five while winning just once in their last four. They are in third place of the standings, so winning here is a must for them. The pitching matchup will feature two capable arms, as Shuta Ishikawa will get the nod for the Hawks and Keisuke Honda will start for the Lions. Both pitchers feature ERAs under the 3.20 mark, although Ishikawa is undefeated while Honda is winless. Considering the offensive power in both lineups, this tendency could continue.
Injuries
Alfredo Despaigne - Out - Not Injury Related
7/7 10:42 PM IST - Despaigne (not injury related) is scheduled to arrive in Japan on July 19 and will then quarantine for 14 days before reporting to the Hawks, Yahoo Sports Japan reports. Due to travel restrictions in their native Cuba, Despaigne and infielder Yurisbel Gracial have thus far been unable to join the Hawks, and it appears their season debuts won't be coming at any point in July. Even once they
Saitama Seibu Lions (17-17) at Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (21-15-1)
Saturday, August 1st, 1:00 AM EDT
Projected Starters
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks: RHP Shuta Ishikawa (3-0, 3.14 ERA)
Saitama Seibu Lions: RHP Keisuke Honda (0-2, 2.87 ERA)
Game Preview
The Hawks have been on a roll of late, and they enter this game on the heels of a 4-1 record during the last five games. As a result, they have climbed to the top of the Pacific League standings. The Lions have dealt with inconsistencies, and have gone 2-3 in their last five while winning just once in their last four. They are in third place of the standings, so winning here is a must for them. The pitching matchup will feature two capable arms, as Shuta Ishikawa will get the nod for the Hawks and Keisuke Honda will start for the Lions. Both pitchers feature ERAs under the 3.20 mark, although Ishikawa is undefeated while Honda is winless. Considering the offensive power in both lineups, this tendency could continue.
Injuries
Alfredo Despaigne - Out - Not Injury Related
7/7 10:42 PM IST - Despaigne (not injury related) is scheduled to arrive in Japan on July 19 and will then quarantine for 14 days before reporting to the Hawks, Yahoo Sports Japan reports. Due to travel restrictions in their native Cuba, Despaigne and infielder Yurisbel Gracial have thus far been unable to join the Hawks, and it appears their season debuts won't be coming at any point in July. Even once they arrive in Japan and complete their quarantine periods, Despaigne and Gracial will likely both require rehab games in the minors to get their timing right at the plate before SoftBank elects to add either player to the active roster. In his sixth NPB season and third with the Hawks in 2019, Despaigne slashed .259/.355/.520 with 36 home runs, 88 RBI and 61 runs in 519 plate appearances.
Yurisbel Gracial - Out - Not Injury Related
7/7 10:40 PM IST - Gracial (not injury related) is scheduled to arrive in Japan on July 19 and will then quarantine for 14 days before reporting to the Hawks, Yahoo Sports Japan reports. Due to travel restrictions in their native Cuba, Gracial and outfielder Alfredo Despaigne have thus far been unable to join the Hawks, and it appears their season debuts won't be coming at any point in July. Even once they arrive in Japan and complete their quarantine periods, Gracial and Despaigne will likely both require rehab games in the minors to get their timing right at the plate before SoftBank elects to add either player to the active roster. In his second season with the Hawks in 2019, Gracial slashed .319/.365/.595 with 28 home runs, 68 RBI and 61 runs scored over 410 plate appearances.
Yuya Hasegawa - Out - Side
7/7 2:47 PM IST - Hasegawa was removed from the Hawks' active roster Tuesday due to a right side bruise that is expected to keep him sidelined for approximately three weeks. The left fielder had a .400 OBP with one RBI and nine strikeouts over his first 11 games, so his loss is a significant one for the Hawks. The 35-year-old will likely be sidelined until at least late July with the injury.
Matt Moore - Out - Calf
7/9 4:41 AM IST - Moore is expected to miss about six weeks after he was diagnosed with a left calf muscle damage following an MRI on Wednesday, Yahoo Sports Japan reports. Moore will miss significant time for the second consecutive season due to a lower-body injury, as he was limited to just two starts with MLB's Detroit Tigers in 2019 due to right knee surgery. After making the jump to Japan over the winter, Moore looked good in his first two turns through the Hawks rotation, collecting 14 strikeout over 10 innings. He'll now be on the shelf until the second half of August after picking up the calf injury in a workout Tuesday.
Dennis Sarfate - Out - Not Injury Related
7/7 2:10 AM IST - Sarfate joined the Hawks on Saturday after completing a 14-day quarantine following his recent return from the United States, Yahoo Sports Japan reports. Though Sarfate is back with the Hawks, he'll have to get his arm reconditioned again after the layoff before he's deemed ready to contribute out of the bullpen. The Hawks are expected to assign Sarfate to the minors, where he'll make an appearance or two before being registered to the big-league roster.
Rick van den Hurk - Out - Back
7/17 4:47 AM IST - Van den Hurk (1-2) allowed four runs on four hits and three walks while striking out zero over 2.2 innings as he was charged with the loss Thursday against the Buffaloes. After a dominant season debut, things have gone downhill for van den Hurk over his last three starts, and he's now been charged with losses in back-to-back starts. He failed to record any strikeouts Thursday while allowing seven baserunners. The right-hander carries a 7.29 ERA and 1.43 WHIP over 21 innings this year.
Saitama Seibu Lions Expected Lineup
SP - Keisuke Honda
2. Sosuke Genda
5. Tomoya Mori
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Expected Lineup
SP - Shuta Ishikawa
8. Takuya Kai
Top Picks
Yuki Yanagita, Hawks: Yanagita is one of the most expensive players in the slate, but he is more than worth the risk. He enters this matchup hitting .379 with a stellar .506 on-base percentage, as well as 10 home runs and 26 RBI. He should be a popular pick across most lineups even if he costs 15 credits.
Ryoya Kurihara, Hawks: Kurihara ranks second in the Hawks in home runs with six, and he has also provided 26 RBI while slashing a solid, yet unspectacular, .245/.287/.437 line. He gets added value since he plays as a catcher, a position where the offense tends to lack.
Hotaka Yamakawa, Lions: Yamakawa leads the Lions in most offensive categories, but the fact that he has connected 12 home runs stands out. His average of .243 isn't really encouraging, but he is getting the job done when he puts the barrel to the ball. He is also a threat to produce runs, as evidenced by his team-best 34 RBI.
Cory Spangenberg, Lions: Spangenberg hits at the top of the order and has showcased impressive power for a leadoff hitter, putting up five home runs while boasting a .463 slugging percentage.
Captaincy Options
Dream11 Team
P – Shuta Ishikawa
C – Ryoya Kurihara (VC)
IF – Hotaka Yamakawa
IF – Ukyo Shuto
IF – Haruka Yamada
OF – Yuki Yanagita (C)
OF – Wladimir Balentien
OF – Cory Spangenberg
OF – Daisuke Togawa
