As the CPBL’s first half approaches the two-thirds mark, the Wei Chuan Dragons are starting to create some separation at 23-13. The winner of the first half secures a place in the 2026 postseason. Winners of four straight, the Dragons have continued their season-long dominance on the mound.
After losing Jo-Hsi Hsu to NPB, the Dragons had a void to fill in the rotation. They signed left-handers Cristopher Mercedes and Marcelo Martínez, along with former MLB right-hander John Gant. With offense viewed as a concern entering the season, the Dragons needed elite pitching to succeed, and they have delivered at a level not seen in CPBL history. Their team ERA sits at 2.13. No team has posted a team ERA under 3.00 since 2006, and the Dragons’ mark would easily be the best in league history. Their offseason pitching additions have exceeded even the organization’s expectations.
Left-hander Cristopher Mercedes, after a lengthy NPB career, made his CPBL debut with the Uni-President Lions in 2025 and posted a 2.57 ERA in 84 innings. He later signed with the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO for the remainder of the 2025 season. Returning to the CPBL in 2026 with the Dragons, he has posted a 2.50 ERA in 39 2/3 innings.
Former MLB pitcher John Gant was another major signing for the Dragons and has enjoyed an outstanding debut season. He leads all qualified CPBL pitchers with a 1.49 ERA and has struck out 38 batters in 36 1/3 innings. He has emerged as the ace of the Dragons’ staff. In his latest outing on Tuesday, he shut down the TSG Hawks with 6 2/3 scoreless innings and nine strikeouts, helping the Dragons secure a fourth straight victory and another shutout win.
Another key addition has been Marcelo Martínez. The Mexican left-hander helped Rakuten win the 2025 Taiwan Series but was not re-signed, and his arrival has been a major boost for the Dragons. In five starts, he has a 0.61 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings. In the Dragons’ current rotation, the highest ERA is 2.89. Their rotation has become the class of the CPBL.
Yu Chang continues to dominate
Yu Chang is healthy and enjoying his best season since returning to the CPBL in 2024. He has established himself as the league’s top hitter and the leading MVP candidate among position players. He leads the CPBL in on-base percentage at .442 and slugging percentage at .550. He is tied for third in walks with 17. While he ranks fourth in home runs, he has consistently shown himself to be the premier hitter in the league.
Chang also had another strong week at the plate, going 8-for-21 over his past six games with three doubles. After the Fubon Guardians finished in last place in 2025, they have engineered the biggest turnaround in the CPBL and now sit in second place at 19-14. The Guardians lead the league in on-base percentage, slugging percentage and runs per game. After finishing last offensively in 2025, they have transformed into the CPBL’s top offense, driven largely by Chang’s production.
CTBC Brothers continue woeful start
At the other end of the standings are the CTBC Brothers. Last year’s runners-up continue to struggle and now sit at 11-23-1, in last place and 3 1/2 games behind fifth-place Rakuten. Given the CPBL’s split-season format, the Brothers likely will need to win the second half to realistically secure a playoff berth.
The gap between the Brothers and the league’s top teams was fully exposed Tuesday and Wednesday in a two-game series against Fubon. The Brothers were swept and outscored 19-3. In the second game in Taichung, they allowed 13 runs in the first inning of a 17-2 loss. The 13-run first inning was the worst in franchise history and tied for the worst in CPBL history.
The Brothers rank next-to-last in nearly every offensive category and have the league’s worst pitching staff. For a franchise that has made the playoffs 16 times since 2001, a dramatic turnaround will be needed to return to postseason contention. The last time the Brothers finished in last place was 2006.
With the Guardians having reached the playoffs just four times in the past 19 seasons, compared with 16 playoff appearances for the Brothers over the past 25 seasons, few would have predicted their current positions in the standings. Still, 2026 may represent a changing of the guard in the CPBL.
Rakuten struggling after championship run
Another disappointing club has been the Rakuten Monkeys. The defending CPBL champions would likely be considered the league’s most disappointing team if not for the Brothers’ struggles. Rakuten ranks last in batting average, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.
Rakuten has also been without Li Lin for the entire season because of a spring injury. Lin has been one of the CPBL’s best hitters over the past decade and delivered another strong campaign in 2025 despite battling injuries, posting an .868 OPS with seven home runs. His absence has left a major void in the Rakuten lineup, and it has shown throughout the 2026 season.
Standings:
Wei Chuan Dragons, 23-13
Fubon Guardians, 19-14
Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions, 18-16-1
TSG Hawks, 18-18-1
Rakuten Monkeys, 14-19-1
CTBC Brothers, 11-23-1
Photo: John Gant with the Wei Chuan Dragons. Photo credit to CPBL
