The Hanshin Tigers are so far ahead in the Central League standings the Japanese media has already given them a magic number.
The Kansai club has rolled through the first half of the season, mauling anything and everything in their path en route to Japanese baseball's best record (51-24-1), highest winning percentage (.680) and a 12-game lead over the second-place Chunichi Dragons and Yomiuri Giants in the CL.
They're getting the job done in almost every aspect of the game, leading the CL in both runs scored (316), despite being last in home runs (42), and team ERA (3.14).