Keep your seats warm, ladies and gentlemen, because we've got a county fair, blue-ribbon showdown on our hands. The Yokohama DeNA Baystars have hopped a train to tango with Yomiuri Giants in the noble clash of the Climax Series Stage 2 Game 1. Now, I don’t want to say this is a lopsided scrap, but the Baystars might want to double-knot their shoelaces.
The past is a guide here, not a crystal ball but some kind of map you bought at a gas station that is mostly, probably accurate. The Giants typically have the Baystars' number, brushing them off in the majority of their recent contests. The Baystars did break their fall with a measly 1-0 win, but if you think that'll cause the Giants some sleepless nights, you may want to cut back on the sake.
If we dig into their regular-season records, the Giants are giants indeed over their aquatic adversaries. A massive 77 victories compared to a less inspiring 71 of the BayStars. Someone call the bookies.
Our Baystars have been bouncing back though, maestroing some impressive wins in their recent games. But the Giants don’t slouch either. They're coming in hot from recent victories, just like a steaming bowl of ramen sliding down your throat on a chilly evening. They have this habit of leaving their rivals in the dust, which isn't promising for the Baystars.
So, to cut a long story short… the Baystars might be as welcome as a skunk at a lawn party in this opening game. They're playing in the Giants' turf, and the home team has the taller, slightly scarier shadow.
Albert's Prediction: Yomiuri Giants by 2