This series opener at Tokyo Dome should turn on two left-handed starters and the first move to the bullpens. Inoue has kept Yokohama's central power bats quiet, while Higashi has made runs hard to find for Yomiuri. A tight game may hinge on which club turns a single baserunner into a run before its trusted late arms take over.
Inoue held DeNA scoreless through six innings in their last meeting, but Yokohama rallied after he left. Maki, Tsutsugo and Miyazaki have struggled against him; Watarai and Mimori have made better contact and give DeNA a way to set the table. Higashi has been excellent against the Giants, although they did collect eight hits against him in a September meeting, and Matsumoto and Oshiro have had some success in their individual matchups.
Sakamoto's lower-body issue has complicated Yomiuri's preparation, while Matsumoto trained with the group and the manager reported no issue with Dalbec. Taisei is rehabbing, which puts more weight on established late relievers Tanaka and Martinez. Neither pitched when DeNA overturned Inoue's lead in the previous meeting.
I see Inoue keeping the heart of Yokohama's order from building repeated rallies and Yomiuri finding a small opening against Higashi. Tanaka and Martinez give the Giants a clearer way to protect that edge than the relief sequence used in the last meeting. That's why I'm siding with the Yomiuri Giants in this close opener.
