After a long layoff, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters will return to the diamond on Wednesday in the second stage of the Pacific League Climax Series.
They'll do it with an automatic one-game advantage, but without injured pitcher Yu Darvish.
While Darvish will be missing, Atsunori Inaba and Japan's top offense will be in the spotlight as the Fighters aim for their second Climax Series championship in three seasons.