As the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) postseason progresses, here is a look at the top news and notes from the past day in Japan’s highest level of professional baseball.
Pitching Matchups Set
With the final four teams punching their ticket forward in dramatic fashion, the starting pitchers for Game 1 of the Final Round of the Climax Series are finally set. Anthony Kay, a right-handed pitcher from Stony Brook, NY, will be on the bump for the DeNA Baystars taking on Shosei Togo of the Yomiuri Giants. Kay has added a strong year for the Baystars, going 6-9 with a 3.42 ERA. However, Togo is the clear headliner of the matchup, going 12-8 with a minuscule 1.95 ERA.
In the final round of the Climax Pacific League series, Hiromi Itoh of the Nippon Ham Fighters will take on Kohei Arihara of the Softbank Hawks. Itoh has been strong throughout this season, without a 2.65 and 14 wins on the season. However, Arihara — who appeared in MLB games in the Rangers’ organization — will headline the matchup, entering with 14 wins and a 2.36 ERA.
Arihara and Itoh’s matchup will be just the second time the pitchers with the most Wins in the league will face each other.
Yoshikawa out for Climax League final round
The Yomiuri Giants will have to navigate the absence of a key contributor, Naoki Yoshikawa, as the infielder has been ruled out for the Climax League final round. Yoshikawa, who injured himself avoiding a hit-by-pitch, added a .287 batting average on the season, stealing 12 bases while playing multiple positions. The 29-year-old’s availability if his team progresses is unknown.
Watch the NPB playoffs on DAZN.
______
WBN NPB: https://worldbaseball.com/league/japan/
Photo Credit: Japan’s relief pitcher Hiromi Itoh hurls the ball during the seventh inning. (Photo by KAZUHIRO FUJIHARA / AFP) (Photo by KAZUHIRO FUJIHARA/AFP via Getty Images)
