Interleague
Miss the interleague preview? This year’s interleague is in many ways a whole new ballgame.
The preview linked above gives the two leagues’ interleague winning percentages over the first, second and third five-year periods since interleague began in 2005. From 2015 to 2019, it was .547 if I remember correctly.
During that period, only one Central League team, the Giants are at .500 with 57 wins and 57 losses, while only one Pacific League team, the Eagles, are under .500, exactly two games, at 56-58 for a .491 win pct.
How many CL teams are better against the PL than their own league? None. Yakult has historically been the closest, and in the past I attributed that to pitchers comfortable with large PL yards being unable to deal with the CL’s most home run-friendly park, Tokyo’s Jingu Stadium, but the PL fences have come in and those distances are common now.
How many PL teams are better against the CL than their own league? That’s easy. Every single one.
Cuba calling
Two of Japanese baseball’s elite relievers are taking their leave during interleague, Chunichi Dragons closer Raidel Martinez, and SoftBank Hawks lefty Livan Moinelo, who are joining the Cuban national team ahead of Toko Olympics Americas qualifying.
Starting pitchers
Interleague
Giants vs Eagles: Tokyo Dome 5:45 pm, 4:45 am EDT
Shosei Togo (3-2, 3.54) vs Takayuki Kishi (2-3, 4.08)
Swallows vs Fighters: Jingu Stadium 5:30 pm, 4:30 am EDT
Yuto Kanakubo (3-0, 1.69) vs Naoyuki Uwasawa (3-2, 3.44)
BayStars vs Buffaloes: Yokohama Stadium 5:45 pm, 4:45 am EDT
Michael Peoples (1-1, 3.00) vs Taisuke Yamaoka (2-3, 3.53)
Dragons vs Hawks: Vantelin Dome (Nagoya) 5:45 pm, 4:45 am EDT
Yuya Yanagi (3-1, 1.83) vs Shota Takeda (3-2, 2.72)
Tigers vs Marines: Koshien Stadium 6 pm, 5 am EDT
Yuki Nishi (3-3, 3.53) vs Kota Futaki (2-2, 3.29)
Carp vs Lions: Mazda Stadium 6 pm, 5 am EDT
Daichi Osera (2-1, 1.71) vs Matt Dermody (0-1, 3.94)
Active roster moves 5/24/2021
Deactivated players can be re-activated from 6/3
Central League
Activated
None
Dectivated
| Giants | P | 26 | Nobutaka Imamura |
| Tigers | P | 15 | Junya Nishi |
| Dragons | P | 97 | Raidel Martinez |
| Carp | P | 11 | Allen Kuri |
| Swallows | P | 35 | Koki Sugiyama |
| Swallows | OF | 0 | Hidetaka Namiki |
Pacific League
Activated
None
Dectivated
| Hawks | P | 35 | Livan Moinelo |
| Marines | P | 12 | Ayumu Ishikawa |
| Buffaloes | P | 11 | Sachiya Yamasaki |
