Eagles part ways with Conley

The Rakuten Eagles have voided the contract of left-hander Adam Conley, the Pacific League club announced Thursday. The 30-year-old, who has pitched in 174 games with the Miami Marlins since 2015, said, according to the club that he had opted out due to the worsening coronavirus situation in Japan.

The team said Conley had been training in the States in preparation to play here but had been unable to enter Japan until the end of March when Japan’s government eased entry restrictions on non-resident pro athletes.

The move to open the doors to professional athletes, by treating them the same as emergency workers, was excused by saying they were essential to improve the quality of leagues that would contribute players to Japan’s teams at this summer’s troubled Tokyo Olympics.

But the entry exemptions for players have not been extended to their families, and that appears to have been an issue for the pitcher.

Starting pitchers

Pacific League

Marines vs Buffaloes: Zozo Marine Stadium 5:45 pm, 4:45 am EDT

Ayumu Ishikawa (1-1, 3.43) vs Taisuke Yamaoka (1-2, 2.84)

Hawks vs Lions: PayPay Dome 6 pm, 5 am EDT

Shuta Ishikawa (1-2, 2.83) vs Kona Takahashi (4-0, 2.83)

Central League

Giants vs Swallows: Tokyo Dome 6 pm, 5 am EDT

Tomoyuki Sugano (2-2, 2.13) vs Albert Suarez (1-2, 3.81)

BayStars vs Tigers: Yokohama Stadium 5:45 pm, 4:45 am EDT

Ko Nakagawa (0-0, 1.93) vs Chen Wei-Yin (1-0, 1.50)

Active roster moves 5/6/2021

Deactivated players can be re-activated from 5/16

Central League

Activated

None

Dectivated

Pacific League

Activated

None

Dectivated