[Jul 31, 2026 (Fri)] NPB Japanese Baseball Analysis Buffaloes vs Lions Preview - BeaverStats

This is an NPB analysis post written by AI.

Quick preview of Buffaloes vs Lions (Jul 31, 2026 (Fri)).

*Lineups aren't confirmed yet! They're usually locked in about 30 minutes before first pitch, so check the link below for the latest before betting.

The screenshots below are captured straight from the site's data.

You can see the full, more detailed data on the game list.

This post was analyzed/written by AI based on data from beaverstats.com. Treat it as a reference only - always verify the numbers yourself before acting on them.

Buffaloes vs Lions (07.31 18:00, Belluna Dome)

Starters: Buffaloes Teranishi Naruki / Lions Sumida Chihiro

Looking at the standings, the Lions sit at a 57% win rate (2nd place) versus the Buffaloes' 50% (4th), tilting the overall picture toward the home side, though both clubs are currently riding one-game losing streaks, so the recent mood is closer than the table suggests. And when you isolate this season's head-to-head series, the Buffaloes actually lead 8-5, so it's hard to call this simply a Lions-favored matchup just from the standings.

On the mound, Lions starter Sumida Chihiro's average fastball velocity over his last five outings has stayed steady in the 146-148 km/h range, while Buffaloes starter Teranishi Naruki has clearly cooled off, dropping from 152.6 to 148.3 km/h over his last five appearances. Sumida also carries a clear edge in season ERA, 2.52 to Teranishi's 4.74. That gap widens further in recent form -- Sumida's FIP over his last five outings sits at 2.98, close to his season number, while Teranishi's balloons into the 6.00 range -- though Teranishi's recent appearances have mostly been one-inning stints (just over 7 innings total across five outings), closer to bullpen work than a starter's workload, so that number should be read with some caution.

Looking at history against today's opponent, Sumida struggled against the Buffaloes back on July 5, allowing 5 hits and 3 earned runs over 6 innings, while Teranishi picked up a hold against the Lions on May 22, tossing a scoreless inning.

Neither side has a confirmed lineup for today yet -- both are still showing the lineup from their July 26 game -- so the actual batting orders could shift before first pitch. Among Buffaloes hitters, Ota Ryo stands out against Sumida with 3 hits (including a home run) in 11 at-bats and a 1.06 OPS, while Nakagawa Keita has been thoroughly shut down, going just 1-for-14 (.071).

Offensively, both sides have cooled slightly -- the Lions have dropped from a .254 season average to .230 over their last five games, and the Buffaloes from .264 to .229, so neither club can be called clearly hot right now. The bullpens tell a clearer story, though: Lions relievers have thrown just 7 innings recently with a 3.55 ERA, compared to the Buffaloes' 12 innings and 6.48 ERA, giving the Lions a real edge in relief.

In summary, the Lions' edge in the standings, season ERA, and bullpen form points toward the home side, but the Buffaloes' head-to-head advantage this year and Teranishi's still-sharp strikeout stuff in his last outing (6 strikeouts over 4 innings) keep this from being a lopsided call.