The Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) postseason is down to the final act of the Climax Series. The winners of the two seven-game series will advance to the Japan Series, which is set to open on Saturday, 20 November.
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The Yomiuri Giants defeated the Hanshin Tigers and will play the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in the Central League final. The series opens on Wednesday, 10 November. Game four is scheduled for Friday, 12 November, while an eventual game seven is scheduled for Monday, 15 November.
The Swallows will start with a one-game advantage thanks to their first-place finish in the Central League regular season standings. The Swallows will host the whole series at the Miji Jingu Stadium.
The Chiba Lotte Marines overcame the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in a very tight series. Chiba won the first game, 5-4, while the second game ended in a 4-4 draw. Chiba clinched because of better seeding after the regular season.
The Eagles will play the Pacific League regular season winners, the Orix Buffaloes. The pennant win will give the Buffaloes a one-game advantage and the right to host the series at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka.
The Pacific League final series also opens on Wednesday, 10 November, and follows the same schedule as the Central League final series.
