While the MLB is about a third of the way through the 2020 season, there's some baseball betting that has been running throughout the summer, as NPB Japan Series odds have been on the board when the Japanese baseball season got underway in June.
NPB betting odds are only available for 125 games this season, as the schedule was shortened following a delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With about a month worth of action under our belt, let’s look again at the Japan Series odds as of August 21.
Who is the favorite to win the 2020 Japan Series?
The Fukuoka Softbank Hawks of the Pacific League (the NPB's Pacific and Central leagues are similar to MLB's AL and NL) are the favorites to win at +335. They've struggled somewhat early in the season, sitting third in the Pacific with a 29-23 record, but considering the Hawks have won the Japan Series in three consecutive years, and a whopping five times in the last six, it's no surprise they're still the favorites.
The Hawks’ biggest challenger is the team they swept in last season’s Japan Series, the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants (+430). After winning 77 games in the Central League a year ago, they are on top of the NPB so far with a 30-18 record.
The team with the next best NPB Japan Series odds is the Saitama Seibu Lions at +600. The Lions actually led the NPB last season with 80 wins but lost 4-1 to the Hawks in Pacific League Climax Series (for the right to go to the Japan Series) and are just 23-27 so far in 2020. They're followed by the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, at +850 to round out the teams with better than 10/1 odds.
2020 NPB Japan Series odds
| Team | 2020 NPB Japan Series odds (July 15, 2020) |
|---|---|
| Fukuoka Softbank Hawks | +335 |
| Tokyo Yomiuri Giants | +430 |
| Saitama Seibu Lions | +600 |
| Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles | +850 |
| Hanshin Tigers | +1,000 |
| Hiroshima Toyo Carp | +1,300 |
| Chiba Lotte Marines | +1,300 |
| Yokohama DeNA BayStars | +1,500 |
| Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | +1,800 |
| Orix Buffaloes | +1,800 |
| Chunichi Dragons | +2,400 |
| Tokyo Yakult Swallows | +2,400 |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings.
Who are the past NPB Japan Series champions?
| Year | Winning Team | Losing Team | Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (PL) | Yomiuri Giants (CL) | 4–0 |
| 2018 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (PL) | Hiroshima Toyo Carp (CL) | 4–1–1 |
| 2017 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (PL) | Yokohama DeNA BayStars (CL) | 4–2 |
| 2016 | Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (PL) | Hiroshima Toyo Carp (CL) | 4-2 |
| 2015 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (PL) | Tokyo Yakult Swallows (CL) | 4-1 |
| 2014 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (PL) | Hanshin Tigers (CL) | 4-1 |
| 2013 | Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (PL) | Yomiuri Giants (CL) | 4-3 |
| 2012 | Yomiuri Giants (CL) | Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (PL) | 4-2 |
| 2011 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (PL) | Chunichi Dragons (CL) | 4-3 |
| 2010 | Chiba Lotte Marines (PL) | Chunichi Dragons (CL) | 4-2-1 |
How to bet on Japanese baseball odds
Japanese baseball odds are much like MLB odds, with the most popular NPB futures bet being selecting a winner of the Japan Series Championship, a seven-game series that takes place at the culmination of the NPB League playoffs. Odds for this wager usually come out soon after the previous season's championship.
Once the season begins, NPB Japan Series odds will be adjusted as teams win and lose games, and as players get hurt or suspended. Odds will also change based on handle and liability to certain teams.
Japan Series odds will usually look like this:
- Yomiuri Giants +450
This means that on a $100 bet, you'll stand to profit $450 if the Giants win the Japan Series. If it's close to the end of the regular season or during the playoffs and there is a very dominant team, you might see a minus sign (-) ahead of their odds.
- Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks -120
This means that you would need to bet $120 to win $100 on a Hawks championship.
Additionally, the NPB playoff format must be noted when betting Japan Series odds. The NPB uses a ladder system which is called the Climax Series. The top three teams from each league make the playoffs with the first-place teaming automatically advancing to the league Climax Series Final Stage, which is a best-of-seven series. The second and third-place teams will face off in the best-of-three First Stage with all three games at the home stadium of the second-place team. The winners of each league's Final Stage meet in the Japan series, which is another seven-game series. So there is plenty of incentive and betting value in finishing first.
Where can I bet on Japanese baseball odds?
While not every online and casino sportsbook will carry odds for the NPB League, many do, especially those that were looking to take baseball betting action while the 2020 MLB season was on hiatus. Check out the best sportsbooks available where you live and see what NPB and Japan Series odds they have available.
