This year's Climax Series in Japanese baseball — the playoffs to determine which teams will play in the Japan Series — will begin Oct. 11 in the Pacific League and Oct. 18 in the Central League, both leagues announced Tuesday.
The system of both leagues' Climax Series has been changed this year as a one-win advantage will be awarded to the league champions in the second stage, where the first team to win four games in the six-game set will win a ticket to the Japan Series.
In the Central League playoffs, the second-place team will face the third-place team in the best-of-three first stage from Oct. 18-20.
The second stage between the winner of the first stage and the league champion will take place from Oct. 22-27.
The first stage of the Pacific League will be held Oct. 11-13, with the second stage to be played from Oct. 17-23, including a rainout date on Oct. 20.
The teams with better regular-season records in both leagues will have home-field advantages in both stages.