Chunichi Dragons manager Kazuki Inoue (C) Kyodo News
The Chunichi Dragons currently sit in last place in the Central League with a 13-22 record, trailing the league-leading Yakult Swallows by nine games.
Playing home games at the spacious Vantelin Dome, the Dragons entered the season with batting as a key weakness. Last year, the team scored just 403 runs, posted a .232 batting average (both league-worst), and hit only 83 home runs (fifth in the league). This season, however, the offense has shown improvement. Thanks in part to the newly installed Home Run Wing at their home stadium, the Dragons have hit 25 home runs (fourth in the league) and scored 120 runs (also fourth in the league), putting up a respectable fight so far.
The pitching staff, which was a strong point last season, has become a major concern. Last year, the team’s ERA was 2.97 (fourth in the league), and they allowed only 80 home runs (second fewest). This season, however, their ERA has ballooned to 3.61 (worst in the league), and they have surrendered 26 home runs (third most). In previous seasons, the Dragons boasted a deep and reliable bullpen, but this year the relief corps has struggled, posting a 5.04 ERA.
On Opening Day against the Hiroshima Carp, the Dragons took a 5-1 lead into the ninth inning, but reliever Abreu allowed four runs to tie the game, and the team lost in extra innings in the 10th. Since then, the bullpen’s struggles have been a recurring theme. On May 10 against the Yomiuri Giants, the Dragons led 4-3 in the sixth inning when reliever Mejia allowed two runs and took the loss. In the seventh, Tsunaki Saito pitched a scoreless inning, but in the eighth, Kento Fujishima allowed one run, and in the ninth, Reia Nakachi gave up three runs, resulting in a 4-9 defeat.
While the Dragons have closer Shinya Matsuyama for the ninth inning, the team cannot succeed without stability from the pitchers who set the stage before him. A swift return to form for the relief corps is desperately needed.