Right-handed pitcher Kenta Maeda will toss in a Los Angeles Dodgers jersey ¡ª but on a familiar mound at Mazda Stadium, the home of his former club Hiroshima Carp in Game 4 of the MLB Japan All-Star Series on Tuesday night.

Organizers announced the starting hurlers for the contest on Sunday.

¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve pitched in Japan and I¡¯m very pleased to have the chance,¡± Maeda told a news conference at Tokyo Dome ahead of Game 3 of the series. ¡°Facing the (Japanese) national team will be a great opportunity for me as well, and hopefully I will be able to enjoy it.¡±

Maeda, a third-year MLB player, said that the series¡¯ inclusion of a game in Hiroshima was ¡°one of the major reasons¡± why he opted to represent the major league squad. The Osaka native added that he is thrilled about taking the hill before what should be a high number of Carp fans.

¡°Hopefully, I would like to show how much I¡¯ve developed in the last three years in America,¡± said the 30-year-old, who was 8-10 and contributed to the Dodgers¡¯ run to the World Series as both a starter and reliever for the second consecutive year.

Enrique Hernandez, Maeda¡¯s Dodgers teammate who is also on the MLB All-Star team, said that he was excited for the series to have a local hero like Maeda.

¡°I¡¯ve been hearing stories about how popular Kenta is here, how big he is,¡± Hernandez said. ¡°It¡¯s pretty exciting to see Kenta in his own element, in his own environment, and I can¡¯t wait to see what the people are going to be like in Hiroshima.¡±

Hernandez, who had a career year with 21 homers for the National League champions, said that the MLB players will tour Hiroshima on Monday and that he expects a hero¡¯s welcome for Maeda.

¡°As soon as we get there, we¡¯re going to explore the city,¡± Hernandez said. ¡°I¡¯m just really excited to have Kenta here. He can¡¯t stop smiling, so that¡¯s pretty cool to see.¡±

Game 4 will feature Hiroshima right-hander Daichi Osera starting for Samurai Japan, a decision that should delight Carp fans even more.

¡°I¡¯ve spent some time with him at the Carp, and he¡¯s looked up to me,¡± Maeda said of the 27-year-old Osera, who tied for the most wins in Japan¡¯s Central League (15) this year. ¡°I never thought a day would come in wich I would pitch against him at Mazda. I would like to do my best, so I won¡¯t let him outperform me.¡±

Staff writer Jason Coskrey contributed to this report.