Tigers v Hawks - the rotation begins to take shape

Last night (26 March) was another loss to the Tigers, this time to a sayonara home run from Matsuda - a useful player Hawks have discovered. Nohmi started for the Tigers and pitched to his potential which is very encouraging. Over 6 innings he gave up only one run and struck out nine batters. Hopefully he can continue.

Hawks started Ohba who was just as good and held the Tigers scoreless until the sixth when he disintergrated suddenly. Hawks scored first in the second, one run off Nohmi but in the sixth Tigers struck back with a run from Sekimoto. The situation was serious for the Hawks but pitching changes and good fielding kept the scores tied. So the match continued until the bottom of the ninth when Mayumi brought Abe on to close. He got the first out but then gave up the solo home run 2-1 Hawks. Even though these are just exhibition games Tigers have lost 7 out of the last eight and the other game was a tie.

Nohmi is likely to make the starting rotation on the back of his good performances along with Fukuhara. Already pencilled in are Andoh, Ishikawa and Kubo. Still up in the air are Shimoyanagi, Iwata and Kanemura. I would like to see Iwata in the starting rotation and Uezono as well. It is time Tigers went with their young pitchers.

Wow, Nohmi might get yet another chance? It seems like he gets a chance every year and by around Golden Week is back in the bullpen or the minors.
I also like the young pitchers and would like to see Iwata, Uezono and/or Ishikawa in the rotation too. Uezono didn't get enough chances last year.

Kubo or Kubota. I thought that they was going to start him this season.

Kubo is the pitcher they recently acquired from Lotte and he is likely to start. There were plans to use Kubota as a starter but he is injured at the moment and will not make the start of the season.