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In a rare twist, the Yomiuri Giants secured a victory but slipped from third to fourth place in the Central League standings.
Before the game on the 12th, both the Giants and the DeNA BayStars had identical winning percentages of .500. However, under Central League rules, when winning percentages are equal, the team with more wins ranks higher. This had the Giants (18 wins, 18 losses) in third and DeNA (17 wins, 17 losses) in fourth.
On game day, both teams won, each building a one-game surplus. DeNA improved to 18 wins and 17 losses for a .514 winning percentage, taking third place, while the Giants moved to 19 wins and 18 losses with a .5135 percentage, dropping to fourth.
If both teams lose on the 13th, they would each return to a .500 winning percentage, but the Giants, with more wins, would reclaim third place, while DeNA would fall to fourth. This means the Giants could gain a spot despite losing.
In contrast, the Pacific League does not have such a rule. Under its system, where rankings are determined solely by winning percentage, both teams would have been tied for third place at .500 before the day’s games.
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