Yokohama DeNA BayStars by 2
Rewind to last year. The BayStars and the Tigers crossed paths, and it was as if the Tigers had forgotten their claws at home. Torched, bashed, call it whatever you want; it wasn't pretty. Fast forward to this year, and the dynamic hasn't changed much when they meet with the BayStars consistently having the upper hand.
Turning to the season as a whole, the Tigers could argue they've had the slightly better run of form with 9 wins out of 17 games, compared to the Baystars languishing with a paltry six victories from their 15 encounters. However, a peek at recent performances might cause you to raise an eyebrow. Evenly matched you could say. The Hanshin Tigers managed to claw their way to some semblance of a winning streak only to stumble a bit against the Carp.
Meanwhile, the BayStars looked unsteady against the Dragons but roared back in their match with Erik Barnes. One might argue that the BayStars only shine when the spotlight isn't so bright, though; picking on Erik Barnes, really? Seems a bit like punching down.
What's the crux of it all you ask? Well, considering everything from past encounters to current form to recent performances, it's looking like the Tigers might spend another sad evening remembering they’re cats, not apex predators.
Albert’s Prediction: Yokohama DeNA BayStars by 2
