Chiba Lotte Marines vs. Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles

Quick read:

I'm taking the Marines on the moneyline because they look like a team with a point to prove, and their ace is ready to light a fire under a lackluster Rakuten lineup.

Rakuten's bats have been about as threatening as a damp towel, while Lotte's pitching staff has shown flashes of composure that could keep the Eagles guessing.

The only hitch is if the Eagles suddenly remember how to swing a bat; at the current odds, that risk is priced thin enough to make the Marines a tasty underdog bite.