About

As of September 21, 2026, before the day's games, this pennant race has become increasingly grueling. In the Pacific League, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks clinched the title on September 17. The gap between them and the second-place Saitama Seibu Lions has widened to 9.5 games. The Lions hold a 2.5-game lead over the third-place Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, leaving the battle for second place undecided. More than 10 games behind them, the Orix Buffaloes and Chiba Lotte Marines are fighting for fourth; currently, the Marines hold the spot. Nearly another 10 games back, the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles sit at the bottom of the standings. In the Central League, the Hanshin Tigers have struggled to reduce their Magic Number (the wins needed to clinch regardless of other results) due to a six-game losing streak. The second-place Yomiuri Giants have surged, closing the gap to zero. While the third-place Yokohama DeNA BayStars are performing well, the fourth-place Tokyo Yakult Swallows have failed to find their rhythm. Meanwhile, the fifth-place Hiroshima Toyo Carp and sixth-place Chunichi Dragons are locked in a fierce battle to avoid the cellar. Both the title race and the fight for survival are not to be missed.