Otani Shohei.

(File photo, AFP)

[Sports Center/Comprehensive Report] The 5th World Baseball Classic will be held in March. The Japanese media "Nikkan Sports" today predicted the starting pitcher for the Japanese team in the group stage. Shohei Otani is expected to start the first game against China .

According to the analysis of the report, Japan will face China in the first match of the group stage on March 9, and Shohei Otani is likely to start. In addition, in the second match against South Korea on the 10th, Darvish is expected to start.

Please read on...

Because supervisor Hideki Kuriyama was asked about starting against China a few days ago and said: "Of course the starting for the last game (championship game) will be considered." That is to say, after Otani started against China in the first game, he will There is a 6-day rest period, and they will start in the quarter-finals on the 16th.

Darvish, on the other hand, rested for 5 days after finishing the second game and then started in the top 8. This game will be a last stand.

The report also said that considering Otani's heavy burden on the second swordsmanship, it is a reasonable guess to let Otani take an extra day off in the middle and start ahead of Darvish.

The report also said that regardless of whether Cuba, Taiwan, or the Netherlands will qualify in the other group, they will not be weak.

related news