Hideki Matsui is likely to play in all preseason exhibition games which will be televised live in Japan, New York Yankees manager Joe Torre said Wednesday.

"I hear they'll be covering seven games live over (in Japan). It makes it easier for me to decide when I'll name Matsui in the lineup," Torre said.

The first game to be aired live on Japanese television is the Yankees' preseason opener against the Cincinnati Reds with the NHK network beginning its coverage at 3 a.m. Friday.

Games on Feb. 28, March 7, 8, 15, 22 and 29 will also be shown live. Matsui will start in left field in Thursday's game at Legends Field. It is unknown where he will be bat in the lineup.

Also in Vero Beach, Fla., Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Hideo Nomo will start the game against the Detroit Tigers in a scheduled two-inning, 30-pitch outing.

The Seattle Mariners, featuring Ichiro Suzuki, Shigetoshi Hasegawa and Kazuhiro Sasaki, will face the San Diego Padres in Peoria, Ariz., while Tsuyoshi Shinjo's New York Mets will meet So Taguchi and the St. Louis Cardinals in Port St. Lucie, Fla.