Shuta Ishikawa to make first start of season for Lotte

Shuta Ishikawa of the Chiba Lotte Marines is set to make his first start of the season on September 11 against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. Since his promotion to the top team on July 16, Ishikawa has primarily served in a relief role, appearing in five games.

Ishikawa has discussed his strategic use of various pitches, including his cutter and power curve. He noted that while he previously used the cutter sparingly in short relief appearances to avoid mistakes, he has integrated it more frequently as he transitions back to a starting role. He also expressed confidence in his curveball, which he considers his primary breaking pitch, and is working to improve the effectiveness of his forkball and changeup.

Looking ahead to the end of the season, Ishikawa stated that his physical condition and ball quality are better than last year. He aims to translate his improved pitch quality into tangible results to extend his professional career.