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Jun 23, 20261
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Kitayama Kouki's Struggles Against Lotte Continue; 24-Year Winless Streak as Starting Pitcher
Nippon Ham pitcher Kitayama Kouki has not won a game as a starting pitcher against the Chiba Lotte Marines in 24 years, marking his only losing record among Pacific League opponents. His record against other teams, including five wins each against Rakuten and Orix, shows the Lotte matchup as a distinct weakness.




Quick Facts
Who
Kitayama Kouki
What
Kitayama struggles as starting pitcher against Lotte
When
24 years
Where
Japan
- Kitayama struggles as starting pitcher against Lotte
- Maintains winless streak in Lotte matchups
- Has winning records against other Pacific League teams
- Career starting pitcher record analyzed by opponent
- Kitayama Kouki
Nippon Ham's starting pitcher Kitayama Kouki faces persistent difficulties in matchups against the Chiba Lotte Marines, extending a remarkable winless streak that has now lasted 24 years in games where he takes the mound as a starter against the team. Analysis of Kitayama's career record by opponent reveals a stark disparity in his performance across Pacific League teams. Among all Pacific League opponents, Lotte represents his only matchup where he carries a losing record as a starting pitcher. In contrast, Kitayama has compiled five wins against both the Rakuten Eagles and Orix Buffaloes, four wins against the Saitama Seibu Lions, and wins against the SoftBank Hawks, demonstrating that his struggles are isolated to Lotte. This pattern has become a notable talking point in the 2026 season, with Kitayama's inability to secure a victory against Lotte standing as a curious statistical anomaly in his otherwise more balanced record against other league opponents. The nature of his difficulties against Lotte remains a subject of interest for analysts and fans alike, particularly given the consistency of his performances against other teams.
Topics
Why This Matters
Kitayama's unprecedented 24-year winless streak against Lotte, despite winning records against every other Pacific League opponent, highlights an unusual statistical anomaly in professional baseball that affects team strategy and player psychology. Understanding such persistent matchup struggles can help analysts predict performance variance and inform roster decisions in competitive contexts.
Timeline & Sources
Jan 1, 2002
WireKitayama's last win as starting pitcher against Lotte (approximately 24 years before 2026)
Jun 23, 2026
WireSports Bull publishes article documenting Kitayama's ongoing struggles against Lotte