The Chunichi Dragons took care of the Hanshin Tigers in Game 3 of the first stage of the Central League Climax Series on Monday only to run into the Yomiuri Giants in the second stage.
Chunichi looks little like the team that swept through the 2007 postseason en route to the Japan Series title. The Dragons usually play at their best against Yomiuri and will need to in order to advance.
The Giants will be combating the effects of a long layoff — as they did last season — but enter the series with an automatic 1-0 lead. The Kyojin were far and away the best team in the league in the second half of the season and are looking for revenge after last season's second-stage failure against Chunichi.