903Tatsuya Shiokawa was named Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles interim manager following the departure of Hajime Miki (Photo: Chunichi Shimbun)
With just three makeup games remaining, the race for the 2026 Nippon Professional Baseball interleague championship is coming down to the wire. The Saitama Seibu Lions clinch with a win or a tie against Hanshin. The Hokkaido Nipponham Fighters clinch with a Seibu loss and a win over Hiroshima by at least five runs. The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks are champions in every other scenario.
Regardless of who wins, one thing is clear: the Pacific League remains the class of Japan. Its teams have dominated the Central League with a combined 63-38 record, while the Yomiuri Giants are the only club from the senior circuit to finish with a winning record.
Now, let’s recap all the latest news and performances.
News From Around the League
Rakuten Eagles manager Hajime Miki and the organization mutually agreed to part ways. Coach Tatsuya Shiokawa was named interim manager.
Orix Buffaloes RHP Shunpeita Yamashita (elbow) and LHP Hiroya Miyagi (elbow) will both miss the rest of the season. They both underwent Tommy John surgery.
SoftBank Hawks LHP Livan Moinelo (shoulder) suffered a setback in his rehab and is not expected to make his season debut until around the All-Star break.
LHP Shinnosuke Ogasawara agreed to terms with the Yomiuri Giants. The former Chunichi Dragon made his MLB debut with the Washington Nationals in 2025 and was pitching in the minor leagues this season.
Yutaro Sugimoto (Buffaloes) hit a walk-off double against the Swallows.
Shinya Hasegawa (Lions) hit a walk-off single against the Carp.
Hiromi Itoh (Fighters) logged his third complete game of the season in a 4-1 victory against the BayStars.
Takahiro Norimoto (Giants) defeated the Eagles, his former team, giving him wins against all 12 teams in NPB.
Wednesday (6/10)
Shosei Togo’s complete game shutout
Shosei Togo (Giants) achieved a career-high 14 strikeouts in a 7-0 complete game shutout against the Eagles.
Kensuke Kondoh (Hawks) hit two homers to help defeat the Tigers, 6-2.
Shinya Hasegawa (Lions) hit a walk-off single against the Carp for the second straight night, becoming the first player in franchise history to do so since 2002.
Kosuke Ukai (Dragons) went 3 for 5 with a grand slam in an 11-4 drubbing of the Marines.
Ryuhei Sotani (Buffaloes) recorded a complete game in an 8-4 win against the Swallows.
Thursday (6/11)
Yi-Lei Sun’s gem
Toshiya Satoh (Marines) walked off the Dragons in extras.
Yi-Lei Sun (Fighters) dominated with eight strikeouts in six shutout innings in his season debut.
Carson McCusker (Eagles) smashed a three-run homer in an 8-2 win over the Giants.
Friday (6/12)
Daito Yamamoto’s walk-off
Kona Takahashi (Lions) fired seven shutout innings of one-hit ball in a 3-0 win against the Giants. Kazuyuki Takemaru struck out 12 in the loss.
