2019 NPB Power Rankings: May Edition

The 2019 NPB Season is one month through and we're already seeing several storylines come on each team. As it is now May 1 in Japan, the Heisei era has ended with Reiwa beginning.

Here's how our power rankings look after March/April:

Reminder: Power rankings are not solely based on win-loss record. That's what standings are for. 

1. [=] Fukuoka Softbank Hawks: 15-10-2

The defending champions have dealt with Yuki Yanagita out, but Hawks still appear to be the team to beat given their depth. What's scary? This team could be even better as first round draft pick Hiroshi Kaino is already making an impact with a scoreless stretch to begin his NPB career. Kenta Imamiya picked up any slack for players who had a slow start.

===

2. [^] (3) Yomiuri Giants: 16-10

The Giants are back. Call the Tatsunori Hara effect, but the pitching staff has thrived with C.C. Mercedes and Taylor Jungmann picking up where they left off from last year. Shun Yamaguchi is off to a dominant start while Tomoyuki Sugano has shown vulnerability to begin the year. Despite all the strange additions in free agency, it's safe to say Yoshihiro Maru has lived up to the hype in bringing a big bat to their lineup. Currently, they could have several candidates to hit at least 20 home runs.

===

3. [^] (6) Tokyo Yakult Swallows: 16-11-1

Swallows started well, but fell off in pitching outside of Juri Hara. So far, they're hitting their way into A-class. It's unclear whether to take this team seriously or not, but they're competing. They're getting good value out of Hirotoshi Takanashi and Kengo Ota, both players they acquired from the Fighters.

===

4. [=] Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters: 12-12-2

Kohei Arihara has been dominant, backing up our reasons why he was put in their Core-4 unit before the season began. Hitting is suspect, but Po-Jung Wang remains the most interesting prospect on the team as we continue seeing his development as the season goes on. Ryo Akiyoshi could find his form as a closer, something he did with the Swallows previously, but the depth in middle relief is questionable outside of Naoki Miyanishi and Katsuhiko Kumon.

===

5. [=] Saitama Seibu Lions: 12-12-1

This might seem a little high based on standings, but in perspective, this group has played well despite having Tetsuya Utsumi, Daiki Enokida and Wataru Matsumoto not playing a single game in the month. Offense is still there and they can get on base, but the pitching is all over the place while it can still get better. Their lineup without Hideto Asamura is still something to be feared.

===

6. [^] (11) Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles: 13-11-1

The Eagles have done a tremendous job without Takahiro Norimoto, but a lot of things are going their way with average pitching. Eigoro Mogi is off to a hot start. If anything, he is the most important position player for the Eagles as he could determine if this is an A-class team or not.

Yuki Matsui is also looking good, on pace to continue his trend of a bad season followed by a good one. Is this pace from April sustainable? Just maybe.

===

7. [v] (2) Hiroshima Carp: 12-15

Yusuke Nomura and Daichi Osera have done their job in the rotation, but Kris Johnson and the bullpen have not. Offense looks streaky, but the Carp appear to have overcome a slow start by winning eight in a row after looking awful through the first 14 games.

===

8. [^] (12) Chunichi Dragons: 13-13

The Dragons have competed through one month, not looking like the last place team that majority of experts project. They can score at will and hit for average in a pitcher's ballpark, which is a plus. However, the bullpen is hard to watch as the starter can keep the team in games. Hiroshi "Kimbrel" Suzuki is going through the classic growing pains of a young pitcher. If he can become a reliable closer as the season goes on, A-class is a realistic possibility. Yudai Ono through one month is also on a huge redemption path.

===

9. [v] (7) Hanshin Tigers: 13-14-1

The Tigers have had a mixed bag of results from their prized free agent signings thus far. Onelki Garcia has a nightmare beginning while Yuki Nishi has lived up to the hype. Unfortunately, Randy Messenger had a poor April and the very hyped up Yusuke Oyama has been hard to watch. Koji Chikamoto, the shakaijin first round pick is off to a good start, which is good for their outfield having a group of aging players who won't be there forever.

===

10. [v] (8) Chiba Lotte Marines: 11-13-1

If the Marines didn't see the Lions, they'd be 11-8. This appears to be a competitive group, but the starting pitching is not where it needs to be if they want A-class. Bullpen could keep them in games down the road, as they're off to a hot start to the season. Home runs aren't a problem with the new HR terrace at home, but is it also hurting the pitching staff in this double-edge sword?

===

11. [v] (10) Orix Buffaloes: 9-14-3

The tie games might help Orix down the stretch, but this team continues to find creative ways to lose. From a walkoff error to a walkoff HR, to a game where walks piled up in one inning, they'll do everything in their power to blow a game. Starting pitching is there as Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been impressive as a starter, but the bullpen and lack of hitting have hurt them. If the back-breaking mistakes can be reduced, they can still compete, but they usually play well enough to lose, being the classic Orix.

===

12. [v] (9) Yokohama DeNA Baystars: 10-17

The Baystars have fallen as much as Toshiro Miyazaki's batting average has through the first month of the season. A 10-game losing streak has them in the cellar with poor starting pitching outside of Shota Imanaga.

Defense in the field has also been hard to watch. They need to have a consistent offense, or else Alex Ramirez's job is all but gone by seaosn's end.

===

Follow us on Twitter @GraveyardBall

2019 Seibu Lions Weekly Digest: End of Heisei

===

The Saitama Seibu Lions went 4-1-1 this week against the Chiba Lotte Marines and Orix Buffaloes. They currently sit at .500 while just on the outside of A-class. This week also represented the end of the Heisei era with Reiwa beginning on May 1.

Here is how it all went down:

===

The first game had Hideaki Wakui and Zach Neal in for a rematch. Both pitchers couldn't go more than five innings as Neal was pulled in the 4th, due to giving up several timely hits. Ken Togame had eat some innings while the Lions had a 7-4 deficit after seven innings.

In the seventh inning, the Marines had two key errors including one on Katsuya Kakunaka which led to a four-run frame and gave the Lions a lead. Ryuya Ogawa coughed it up with a solo HR by Daichi Suzuki in the bottom half.

This game remained tied through extra innings and Yasuo Sano had a jam in the 12th. With two runners on, he forced a double play to earn a tie.

Lions 8, Marines 8 (12 innings) 

Game note:

-Kaito Awatsu and Ken Togame were called up for the first time in 2019. Hiromasa Saito and Hayato Takagi were taken off as corresponding moves.

===

The second game had Keisuke Honda and Daiki Iwashita. Hotaka Yamakawa had two HRs and Fumikazu Kimura's timely hit was enough offense to give the Lions an insurmountable lead.

Honda went 6.2 innings with one unearned run allowed while the bullpen closed. Kyle Martin and Tatsushi Masuda took the 8th and 9th innings with little fanfare. As a result, Honda would win his 2nd career game on his 26th birthday.

Lions 4, Marines 1

Game note:

-Zach Neal was taken off the roster for Makoto Aiuchi.

===

The final game of the series had Aiuchi facing Kota Futaki. This was once again a high scoring affair for both sides. Home runs came from Tomoya Mori, Takashi Ogino, Shogo Nakamura and Seiya Inoue while both starting pitchers went six innings and allowed four runs.

Aiuchi was trying to get his first career win and the Lions scored three in the 7th off timely hits from Genda and Akiyama. However, Chiba chipped away at the lead with two runs in the 6th as Yasuo Sano couldn't get a clean frame and Katsunori Hirai gave up several base hits.

Off Shogo Noda, the Marines tied it in the 8th off a timely hit. The 9th inning also had its drama, as Fumikazu Kimura hit a solo HR into the terrace to put the Lions back up, but the Marines also recorded a timely hit by Kennys Vargas to tie the game again. The Marines tried sending the winning runner home, but Shuta Tonosaki's throw denied the sayonara.

"Aito" Takeda came in as a pinch runner for Takumi Kuriyama earlier in the game and was the DH taking an AB after a fielder's choice kept the inning alive in the 10th. He delivered on a timely double down the LF line and Tomoya Mori scored from first. Ryuya Ogawa closed it out for his first save of the season and the Lions took the series.

Lions 9, Marines 8 (10 innings) 

Game note:

-To make room for Aiuchi, Keisuke Honda was deactivated.

===

The week shifted to Osaka with the beginning of Golden Week as Shinsaburo Tawata took on Taisuke Yamaoka. Both pitchers wouldn't last for six inning and gave up five runs each, which included timely hits from Tomoya Mori and Hotaka Yamakawa.

Despite the high scoring affair, the Lions had a 7-4 lead in the 6th inning, but Shogo Noda coughed it up with a timely triple from Shuhei Fukuda and RBI single from Kodai Sano. Orix didn't take the lead thanks to Katsunori Hirai striking out Joey Meneses.

With two runners in scoring position in the top of the 7th inning, Yamakawa delievered with a single to bring both of them home. It was the game winner and the Lions even scored insurance runs to prevent any comeback as the win streak hit three games.

Lions 11, Buffaloes 7

Game note:

-Deunte Heath returned to the ichi-gun and pitched in the bottom of the 7th, allowing one hit, but striking out two.

===

Game two had Tatsuya Imai facing Kohei Suzuki. Two timely hits from Meneses and Shuhei Kojima gave Orix a 2-0 lead after three innings. The Lions couldn't capitalize on early chances as this looked to be low scoring.

Imai went seven innings, giving up eight hits and three walks, but his efforts were not in vain. After squandering a 7th inning chance, the Lions loaded the bases in the eighth inning with three consecutive walks. Yamakawa and Mori walked two plate two runs, while Takumi Kuriyama had the game-winning hit off a sharp single to give a 3-2 lead.

With this comeback the Lions were able to achieve a 4th straight win.

Lions 4, Buffaloes 2

===

The final game of the series had Andrew Albers against Ken Togame, where the latter made his first start of 2019. Yamakawa hit a two-run HR in the first inning, but Orix tied it on a double from Shuhei Fukuda in the 4th. Both teams traded a run in the 5th to make things even as it stayed 3-3 through six innings.

In the 8th, the Lions ruined a chance with runners on the corners with one out. Yamakawa hit an infield fly while Shuta Tonosaki struck out with the bases loaded. Orix made the Lions pay in the bottom of the frame as Masataka Yoshida hit a two-run HR off Ryuya Ogawa to take the lead for good.

With this loss, the Lions ended the Heisei Era on a losing note. 

Buffaloes 5, Lions 3

===

Overall, it was still a good week. Being .500 in April is not the end of the world given who was missing. Of course they'll need to learn how to defeat Softbank and Rakuten, but after the second time through the order in the Pacific League, nothing is decided yet. 

===

Follow us on Twitter @GraveyardBall

2019 Seibu Lions Weekly Digest: Imai records only win

===

The Saitama Seibu Lions had another losing week, going 1-4 against the Rakuten Eagles and Softbank Hawks. However, they're not in the cellar as they're tied with the Chiba Lotte Marines in B-class, only 1.5 games out of third.

Here is how it all went down:

===

The first game had Zach Neal making his first road start in a rematch against Wataru Karashima. Shogo Akiyama started the scoring with a solo HR in the third, but Eigoro Mogi responded with one of his own in the bottom of the frame. Zelous Wheeler had a timely hit with two outs to give the Eagles their first lead.

Hotaka Yamakawa had a timely gapper with two outs to make it 3-2, but Neal couldn't get a shutdown inning from a timely hit by Hideto Asamura in the bottom of the 5th. Takeya "Okawari-kun" Nakamura hit a solo HR in the 6th inning as the Lions bullpen had to take over.

With Kyohei Nagae in as a defensive replacement, he committed a huge error which put a runner on base. With two outs, Motohiro Shima had a timely hit to tie it all at 4-4. The Lions squandered opportunities in the late innings and no score came until the bottom of the 10th, when Kyle Martin struggled to record an out. He was ejected for a dangerous pitch off Hiroaki Shimauchi and Ryuya Ogawa allowed a sayonara sacrifice fly to end the game.

Eagles 5, Lions 4 (10 innings)

===

Game 2 had Keisuke Honda and Yuya Fukui. The Lions jumped out to a 3-0 lead from some infield singles and a timely from Takumi Kuriyama, but that was all the scoring from the road side in the first inning.

Honda looked like he would cruise, but the third time through the order penalty hit him hard. He allowed two runs from a timely hit by Louis Okoye in the 4th, while Asamura did damage again with a three-run HR in the 5th, which decided the game. Fukui settled in and went five innings while the Eagles bullpen kept the Lions off the board. It was the 4th straight loss by the Lions against the Eagles.

Eagles 7, Lions 3

Game note:

-Sosuke Genda missed his third consecutive game. Masato Kumashiro started at SS again.

===

The week shifted home to Kanto as Shinsaburo Tawata took on Kodai Senga. This one was all about Senga, who had a no-hitter through five innings before Yuji Kaneko broke it up in the 6th.

Tawata gave up two runs in the third inning off timely hits from Kenta Imamiya and Nobuhiro Matsuda while going 6.1 innings. With Senga's dominance through 8 innings, the Lions only had one chance in the 6th with runners on the corners, but Tonosaki struck out and Yamakawa flied out to end it.

As a result, the Lions lost their third straight game.

Hawks 2, Lions 0

Game note:

-Genda returned to the starting lineup batting 9th. He had an error and went 1 for 3.

===

Game 2 had Roberto Suarez facing Tatsuya Imai. Kenta Imamiya started the scoring with a solo HR in the first. However, the Lions erupted for five runs in the second inning off Suarez. It was capped off from a two-out rally including a bases-clearing triple from Fumikazu Kimura as well as timely hits from Yuji Kaneko and Sosuke Genda.

Yamakawa hit a solo HR and the 6-1 lead was enough for the Lions. Imai went 6+ innings and allowed only three runs. Katsunori Hirai, Kyle Martin and Tatsushi Masuda closed out this game without issue to end the streak.

Lions 6, Hawks 4

Game note:

-Kakeru Yamanobe was called up in place of Ryusei Sato.

===

The final game had Kona Takahashi facing Rei Takahashi. While Takuya Kai hit a solo HR to begin the scoring, this one was over in the fourth inning with a flurry of timely hits while Hayato Takagi couldn't cleanup any mess with inherited runners.

This laugher had the Lions give up the most runs in a single game in this young season. As a consolation, Yamanobe got to make his ichi-gun debut as a pinch hitter and recorded a bases loaded walk for his first career RBI.

Hawks 16, Lions 5

===

In perspective, we have to remember that Tetsuya Utsumi, Daiki Enokida and Wataru Matsumoto are all injured. If the Lions can escape this month without a significant losing streak, it isn't the end of the world.

===

Follow us on Twitter @GraveyardBall

2019 Seibu Lions Weekly Digest: Tawata earns shutout

===

The Saitama Seibu Lions went 2-3 against the Rakuten Eagles and Orix Buffaloes. Currently, they have a .500 record and are right on the fringe of A-class, only half a game behind the Fighters for third place.

Here is how things went down:

===

The first game from Omiya had Wataru Karashima against Zach Neal. Hideto Asamura's first game against his former team saw some boos, but Neal struck him out in the first at bat.

Scoring wouldn't come until the 4th inning, where an error by Hotaka Yamakawa led to a rally of four runs given up. The Lions responded in the bottom of the frame with a three-run HR by Yamakawa.

The fifth inning gave the Eagles a lead they wouldn't give up, as Asamura hurt his former team through a two-run HR. Offensively, the Lions just traded runs with the Eagles and the best chances came in the 6th and 7th innings. With the bases loaded, Daichi Mizuguchi grounded out as he came in while as a pinch runner.

This loss ended the two-game win streak.

Eagles 7, Lions 6

Game notes:

-Masato Kumashiro started at 3B and had one double.

-Jen-Lei Liao was taken off the ichi-gun roster for Yasuo Sano.

===

Game two had Yuya Fukui facing Shota Takekuma. Zelous Wheeler scored first on an RBI single in the third, but the Lions responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame thanks to a timely infield single from Sosuke Genda and Shogo Akiyama grounding into a fielder's choice.

Takekuma looked like he was cruising until the 5th inning, where disaster struck. Hiroaki Shimauchi plated two runs with a double and a continuous run of timely hits made it a six-run inning. Ichiro Tamura couldn't clean up the mess as he took the last part of the frame.

The Lions had some consolation runs in the 8th and 9th which included a HR by Ernesto Mejia, but it was all too late.

Eagles 7, Lions 5

Game note:

-Mejia's HR was the 9,000th in Lions history.

-Daichi Mizuguchi started at 3B and couldn't catch a liner that went over his head.

-Kyohei Nagae was called up in place of Daisuke Togawa.

===

The homestand continued against Orix with Shinsaburo Tawata and Taisuke Yamaoka. Both pitchers went at least 7 innings and didn't allow a run, despite the Lions bats knocking on the door.

Tawata flirted with a no hitter into the 7th inning before Masataka Yoshida broke it up with a base hit. The Lions kept him in for the 9th inning with two runners on and he picked up a key strikeout to keep the Buffaloes scoreless.

In the bottom of the 9th with Shuta Tonosaki on second and Takeya "Okawari-kun" Nakamura on first, Aito Takeda had a chance to end it after coming in as a defensive replacement. He grounded into a fielder's choice, but the throw to first went off his body instead of a glove, allowing Tonosaki to score for the first sayonara of 2019.

Lions 1, Buffaloes 0

Game note:

-Shota Takekuma was deactivated while Kyohei Nagae was called up.

===

The second game had Tatsuya Imai facing Daiki Tomei. Both teams traded runs in the first three innings where it was tied 3-3. However, Orix went to their long reliever Sachiya Yamasaki, who kept the Lions off balance and off the board, while Imai struggled in the 4th and 6th innings.

Orix added another three runs off the Lions bullpen to put icing on the cake as it was an easy blowout.

Buffaloes 10, Lions 3

===

The final game of the series had Takahiro Matsuba and Kona Takahashi. Orix drew first blood off a HR from Yoshida, but this game was all Lions after that. Hotaka Yamakawa hit a three-run HR in the 5th while timely hits scattered in the later innings off the bullpen. Shogo Akiyama had an RBI triple while Yuji Kaneko and Shuta Tonosaki also had two RBIs.

It was a game of well-rounded offense, capping off a series won in a losing week.

Lions 11, Buffaloes 3

Game note:

-Ichiro Tamura was deactivated for Hayato Takagi.

-Sosuke Genda was hit by a pitch, ending his consecutive game streak of 300 in a row. Kyohei Nagae started at SS in his place.

===

Not the most ideal week, but pitching is still injured. Daiki Enokida, Tetsuya Utsumi and Wataru Matsumoto: Get well soon.

===

Follow us on Twitter @GraveyardBall

2019 Seibu Lions Weekly Digest: Honda wins first game, Tonosaki steals show

===

The Saitama Seibu Lions went 5-1 for the week which featured their first home stand. At 5-4, they currently sit in A-class slightly above the pack in what is still a young season. 

Here's how it all went down:

===

The home opener featured Zach Neal making his debut against Hideaki Wakui. This one was early from the early stages as Sosuke Genda's timely triple drew first blood. Hotaka Yamakawa hit a solo HR and even Fumikazu Kimura contributed with a timely infield single.

Tomoya Mori broke the game open with two timely hits with the bases loaded, plating in a total of four runs on the night. Neal was able to go 5.1 innings before he was given the hook and won his debut while the Lions got their first win of the year.

Lions 7, Marines 4

Game note:

-Ernesto Mejia was called up while Hitoto Komazuki was taken off the ichi-gun roster. Komazuki has yet to appear in any ichi-gun game for his career/

===

Game 2 had Shota Takekuma making his first start since 2012 against Brandon Mann. Shogo Akiyama started the scoring after grounding into a double play. An early error on Yudai Fujioka gave the Lions a 3rd inning chance as Yuji Kaneko took advantage of this with a timely hit.  Genda and Akiyama added with timely hits of their own to make it 5-0 and ending Mann's night.

Takekuma went five innings where his only blemish was a three-run HR to Shogo Nakamura in the third. He finished the night allowing six hits, two walks and had two strikeouts.

Takeya "Okawari-kun" Nakamura cleared the bases with a double in the 5th which sealed it for the night. He added a timely hit in the 7th for good measure as the Lions won their second straight.

Lions 9, Marines 3

Game notes:

-Shohei Suzuki made his debut as a pinch runner in the 7th inning and scored off the timely hit from Okawari-kun.

-Jen-Lei Liao made his debut pitching the 9th inning, where he allowed one hit and hit one batter.

===

The final game had Keisuke Honda up against Kazuya Ojima, where the latter was making his NPB debut. Mori started the game with a bases-loaded triple for an early 3-0 lead. Tonosaki grounded out to plate Mori in the first.

In the second, an RBI groundout by Yamakawa appeared to be the only offensive damage, but became much more. Mori hit an RBI single, Tonosaki plated him with an RBI double and Takumi Kuriyama added to that with an RBI single. This ended Ojima's night after two innings.

Honda would go 6+ innings with two strikouts 1 walk, four earned runs and five hits overall. He gave up a two-run HR to both Kennys Vargas and Brandon Laird before he was pulled. Shogo Noda cleaned up the 7th while Katsunori Hirai had no trouble in the 8th.

Kyle Martin had a rough ninth inning giving up a two-run HR to Katsuya Kakunaka with the lead, but it was enough to record a 27th out and sweep the Marines, having the win streak reach three.

Game note:

-To make room for Honda, Shohei Suzuki was taken off the ichi-gun roster.

-Aito Takeda came in as a substitute for Yuji Kaneko in the 4th. He went 0-2 and is still looking for his first NPB hit.

===

The week shifted to Tokyo Dome as Naoyuki Uwasawa took on Shinsaburo Tawata. In short, Tawata was outdueled while Po-Jung Wang drove in the key runs.

Uwasawa went seven strong innings with only one run allowed and both bullpens ended up trading runs.

Fighters 5, Lions 2

Game note:

-With a short week ahead, Honda was taken off for OF Daisuke Togawa.

===

Game two had Takayuki Kato against Tatsuya Imai. With the Fighters going with bullpening, Chihiro Kaneko entered in the third inning and all disaster began. Tomoya Mori and Shuta Tonosaki lit him up for five runs where the former hit a three-run HR. 

The game was broken open in the 5th inning with a seven-run frame by the Lions offense. Among starting players, only Hotaka Yamakawa and Okawari-kun did not have a hit where the latter was subbed out early. Even Ryusei Sato was able to record his first career hit and Togawa made his ichi-gun debut as a pinch hitter. It was the biggest blowout win for the Lions in 2019.

Lions 16, Fighters 3

===

The third game featured a pitcher's duel between Kona Takahashi and Kohei Arihara. Takahashi gave up two runs in the third with timely hits from Takuya Nakashima and Haruki Nishikawa. Both sides did not budge with the starters going eight innings. Arihara dominated the Lions with 11 strikeouts.

Justin Hancock took the 9th inning and disaster came. With two runners on, Mori plated one run in to cut the lead in half. Shuta Tonosaki had the game-deciding blow with a three-run HR that went to the upper corner of Tokyo Dome. Tatsushi Masuda gave up a hit in the 9th, but closed it out as the Lions stole the final game of the series.

Lions 4, Fighters 2

===

After an ugly opening series, the Lions had a solid week going 5-1 and playing at home was a remedy for an awful time in Fukuoka. There's no question it is good to see Takahashi develop and the offense still being top notch.

===

Follow us on Twitter @GraveyardBall