The 2021 postseason of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) is set to open with the first stage of the Climax Series on Saturday, 6 November.
Six teams advanced to the 2021 postseason. The regular season winners will start directly from the final stage of the Climax Series. Each league's second- and third-place teams will play a best-of-three series, with the second-place teams having field advantage.
The Hanshin Tigers will face the Yomiuri Giants in a best-of-three series at Koshien Stadium. The winner will face Central League regular season winners Tokyo Yakult Swallows in the final stage. The Swallows led the Central League with 73 wins, 52 losses and 18 draws.
The Chiba Lotte Marines will host the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles at the ZOZO Marine Stadium in a best-of-three series. The winner will face Pacific League regular season winners Orix Buffaloes. The Buffaloes won the Pacific League thanks to 70 wins, 55 losses, and 18 draws. The four-time Japan Series defending champions Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks finished fourth (60-62-21) and failed to qualify for the postseason.
The winners of the Climax Series will compete in the best-of-seven Japan Series starting Saturday, 20 November.
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