Upcoming Match-ups

NPB Odds, Picks & Best Bets for July 25: Buffaloes Continuing Their Charge

Paul Attfield

by Paul Attfield in News

Updated Jul 24, 2020 · 3:20 PM PDT

Tohoku Golden Eagles starter Takahiro Shiomi
Tohoku Golden Eagles starter Takahiro Shiomi has a 1-3 record with a 6.55 ERA this season. Photo by Sakuraikubuki (Wiki Commons).
  • Orix registers third win in four over Tohoku to knock Eagles out of first place
  • Yasuhito Ogawa puts his 4-0 record on the line as Swallows host Yomiuri Giants
  • Find all the odds and best bets for the six Nippon Professional Baseball games on Saturday, July 25

The formerly downtrodden Orix Buffaloes seem to be experiencing something of a revival in their series against the high-flying Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. Three wins and a tie so far in their six-game series has been enough to bring the Eagles back to earth somewhat, with the owners of the most prolific offense in Nippon Professional Baseball being knocked off the top of the Pacific League as a result.

It’s also allowed Orix to climb out of the PL basement, and has them just four wins back of a playoff spot. With Orix and Tohoku set to tussle again on the weekend, there’s plenty to play for.

Before we get to breaking down that game, here are the odds for all of Saturday’s  games.

NPB Odds: July 25th

Team Runline Win Over/Under Run Total Game Time (Eastern)
Hanshin Tigers -1.5 (-115) -230 O 7.5 (-105) 1 a.m.
Chunichi Dragons +1.5 (-115) +175 U 7.5 (-125)
Team Runline Win Over/Under Run Total Game Time (Eastern)
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters +1.5 (-125) +180 O 7.5 (-115) 1 a.m.
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks -1.5 (+105) -240 U 7.5 (-115)
Team Runline Win Over/Under Run Total Game Time (Eastern)
Yomiuri Giants -1.5 (+125) -140 O 8.5 (-130) 5 a.m.
Tokyo Yakult Swallows +1.5 (-165) +105 U 8.5 (EVEN)
Team Runline Win Over/Under Run Total Game Time (Eastern)
Chiba Lotte Marines -1.5 (+140) -120 O 8.5 (-145) 5 a.m.
Saitama Seibu Lions +1.5 (-190) -110 U 8.5 (+110)
Team Runline Win Over/Under Run Total Game Time (Eastern)
Hiroshima Toyo Carp +1.5 (-165) +120 O 8.5 (-145) 5 a.m.
Yokohama DeNA Baystars -1.5 (+125) -160 U 8.5 (+110)
Team Runline Win Over/Under Run Total Game Time (Eastern)
Orix Buffaloes +1.5 (-165) +125 O 8.5 (-105) 5 a.m.
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles -1.5 (+125) -165 U 8.5 (+125)

Odds as of July 24th.

Buffaloes Go Charging On

Unbeaten so far in the six-game series against Golden Eagles, yet the Buffaloes are still facing disrespect when it comes to the moneyline.

Orix has been made a +125 underdog to win Saturday, and yet with Daiki Tajima on the mound, this game could be just as winnable as any of them. The 23-year-old left-hander is just 1-1 in five starts on the season, but a lot of that has to do with the lack of run support that comes playing for the ninth-best offense in NPB.

Tajima has an earned-run average of just 2.27 this year, on top of a WHIP of .884. In his third year in NPB, Tajima looks to be breaking out this season, improving on his career ERA of 3.48.

Tohoku is going with Takahiro Shiomi, a nine-year veteran lefty with a 43-51 record and 1-3 in four starts this year. Shiomi has been torched by opposing batters, too, giving up 16 earned runs in 22 innings.

Pick: Buffaloes (+125); O 8.5 (-105)

Ogawa Can Get Swallows Singing

The story of the 2020 season for Tokyo right-hander Yasuhiro Ogawa is simple: All he does is win.

At 4-0 in five starts so far, Ogawa has been at the heart of the Swallows’ early-season success, with the team sitting right behind the first-place Giants.

The 30-year-old is trending some way below his career ERA however, with a 4.30 mark thus far, in comparison to his eight-season average of 3.54. But as his 69-51 career record shows, the guy just knows how to win.

In response, Yomiuri is going with Angel Sanchez in an attempt to widen the four-game lead it has over the Swallows. In his first year in NPB, the former Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander has acquitted himself well thus far, with a 3-2 record in five starts, and with a 2.67 ERA across 27 innings.

YouTube video

The teams eventually settled for a 5-5 tie after 10 innings in Friday’s series opener, with the Giants hitting a pair of home runs in the seventh inning to force extra innings.

Pick: Swallows (+105); U 8.5 (EVEN)

Author Image