Seibu and Nippon-Ham open Pacific League Climax Series First Stage on October 10
In short
The Pacific League Climax Series First Stage begins on October 10, with second-placed Seibu facing third-placed Nippon-Ham. Nippon TV reported that Seibu will start Kaima Taira (平良海馬), who went 12-5 with a 1.36 ERA, and Nippon-Ham will start Kohei Arihara, who went 7-9 with a 4.44 ERA. The First Stage is first to two wins, and the winner advances to the Final Stage starting October 14.
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The Climax Series First Stage of Japan's professional baseball begins on October 10. In the Pacific League, Seibu, second in the regular season, plays Nippon-Ham, which finished third, NHK reported. The First Stage is played as a first-to-two-wins series, according to Nippon TV. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Nippon TV reported that Seibu, hosting a Climax Series game at home for the first time in seven years, will start Kaima Taira (平良海馬), who moved into the starting rotation this season. Taira won the league's ERA title, going 12-5 with a 1.36 ERA in 23 appearances, including 22 starts. Nippon-Ham will start Kohei Arihara, who went 7-9 with a 4.44 ERA in 17 starts. Jiji Press also published the announced starters for the October 10 games. [ 1 , 4 ]
Nippon-Ham manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo said Arihara had been in a severe slump this season, but explained his choice by pointing to signs that Arihara had returned to form after readjusting in the minor-league team, his good record at Belluna Dome and his experience of postseason games, Nippon TV reported. The two teams split their regular-season meetings 12-12 with one tie. [ 4 ]
On October 9, the day before the opener, both teams held practice and press conferences, with Seibu manager Fumiya Nishiguchi (西口文也) and Shinjo among those speaking, NHK reported. [ 2 ]
The winner of the First Stage advances to the Final Stage, which starts on October 14. Nippon TV said SoftBank holds a two-win advantage under a rule adopted this season, and that the first team to five wins goes on to the Japan Series. In the other First Stage series, the Giants will start Haruto Inoue (井上温大), who went 10 wins with a 2.02 ERA, against DeNA, which will start Katsuki Azuma (東克樹), who went 12-6 with a 2.40 ERA. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The series opens Japan's 2026 professional baseball postseason, and its winner moves on toward the Japan Series. Nippon TV reported that Seibu is hosting a Climax Series game at home for the first time in seven years.
Key facts
- The Climax Series First Stage begins on October 10; in the Pacific League, second-placed Seibu plays third-placed Nippon-Ham. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The First Stage is decided by the first team to win two games. [ 4 ]
- Seibu and Nippon-Ham split their regular-season meetings 12-12 with one tie, according to Nippon TV. [ 4 ]
- Seibu's starter Kaima Taira (平良海馬), who moved to the rotation this season, went 12-5 with a 1.36 ERA in 23 appearances, 22 of them starts, and won the ERA title. [ 4 ]
- Nippon-Ham's starter Kohei Arihara went 7-9 with a 4.44 ERA in 17 starts this season. [ 4 ]
- The First Stage winner advances to the Final Stage starting October 14, where the first team to five wins goes to the Japan Series; SoftBank holds a two-win advantage under a rule adopted this season. [ 4 ]
- Seibu manager Fumiya Nishiguchi (西口文也) and Nippon-Ham manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo held press conferences on October 9. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The pitching matchup of Kaima Taira for Seibu and Kohei Arihara for Nippon-Ham. Only Nippon TV names the starters in the available text; Jiji Press published a list of announced starters, but only its headline is available.
- What Seibu manager Fumiya Nishiguchi said about his team at the press conference. NHK's summary is cut off after he began speaking about the batting lineup.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- October 9: Jiji Press publishes the announced starters for the October 10 Pacific League Climax Series games. [ 1 ]
- October 9: NHK reports that Seibu and Nippon-Ham held practice and press conferences ahead of the series. [ 2 ]
- October 10: NHK previews the first game of the Pacific League First Stage. [ 3 ]
- October 10: Nippon TV previews the opening of the 2026 postseason and the starting pitchers. [ 4 ]