The Yokohama BayStars, the only team that had not yet played in the Climax Series since the postseason format was introduced in 2007, are up against a postseason regular, the Yomiuri Giants, as their best-of-three first-stage series begins Saturday at Tokyo Dome.
Under first-year manager Alex Ramirez, the BayStars finished the regular season with 14 wins, 10 losses and one tie against the Giants, one of his former teams.
Yokohama also boasts cleanup hitter Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, who won the Central League's home run (44) and RBI (110) titles, and Jose Lopez, whose late-season performance led to his receiving the monthly award for September, with 12 homers and 26 RBIs.