Climax Series Final Stage 2021: Tokyo Yomiuri Giants vs. Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Chiba Lotte Marines vs. Orix Buffaloes

The first stage of the NPB playoffs is now completed, with the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants sweeping the Hanshin Tigers in the Central League, while the Chiba Lotte Marines swept the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles.

This now sets up the Climax Series Final Stage as the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants will take on their crosstown rival, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows for the Central League. While the Chiba Lotte Marines will take on the Orix Buffaloes in the Pacific League.

For those not familiar with the NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball), those winning the Central League and Pacific League pennant, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows and the Orix Buffaloes are automatically given a one-win advantage and retain homefield advantage (the games are played at the pennant winning team’s stadium). So, the Yomiuri Giants will play at the Swallows’ Meiji Jingu Stadium in Shibuya and the Marines will play at the Buffaloes’ Kyocera Dome Osaka.

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