Recent years have been kind to the teams with D.J. Houlton on the roster.

Houlton has been part of pennant-winning squads in each of the past four seasons, capturing the Pacific League title with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in 2010 and 2011, while adding a Central League title last season, his first with the Yomiuri Giants.

The Fullerton, California, native also helped the Hawks win the Japan Series in 2011 and did the same for the Giants in 2012. He'll get started on title No.3 Wednesday night at Tokyo Dome, when he toes the rubber against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles to start Game 4 of this year's Japanese Fall Classic.