Rakuten Eagles right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma has joined Nippon Ham Fighters ace Yu Darvish on the list of Pacific League opening day starters for the 2010 season.
New Rakuten manager Marty Brown informed Iwakuma at the team's spring training site in Okinawa on Monday of his decision to start him on March 20 against the Orix Buffaloes.
''I was given the job of taking the first step in the team's bid for the league and Japan Series titles,'' Iwakuma said. ''I'm honored to take the ball and ready to pitch hard.''
The 2008 Sawamura Award winner has started on opening day for Rakuten the past three seasons.
Nippon Ham manager Masataka Nashida has already decided to send Darvish to the mound on March 20 against the Softbank Hawks.
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