Seibu wins by relying on elite starting pitching to establish an early lead and win low-scoring games. Nippon Ham attacks with a balanced lineup that can be neutralized by top-tier pitching, but they win by leveraging their rested, deep bullpen to keep games close and exploiting late-inning opportunities. The structure of this game depends heavily on what happens after the starters leave the mound.
Seibu has lost their top setup man to an elbow injury, severely weakening their late-game bridge. Meanwhile, Nippon Ham comes in with significant rest, boasting a fully available bullpen and the return of their main slugger. Seibu's starter might dominate the early innings, but the late innings heavily favor the visitors. That's why I'm siding with the Fighters to mount a late comeback.
