Prediction: Tokyo Yakult Swallows VS Yokohama DeNA BayStars 2025-06-01
The Tokyo Yakult Swallows, the lovable losers of the Central League, are taking on the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, and I've got my eyes on this matchup. The Swallows are throwing rookie Shunsuke Shigekawa, a farm system product, into the fire against none other than Trevor Bauer, the Cy Young Award-winning pitcher. Talk about a baptism by fire!
Shigekawa had a decent season in the Eastern League, going 4-8 with a 3.86 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 40 games. Not bad for a rookie, but let's be real, he's about to face a whole different level of competition. Bauer, on the other hand, is a seasoned pro with a reputation for dominating on the mound.
The odds are heavily in favor of the BayStars, with most bookmakers listing them as -150 to -160 favorites. The Swallows are +130 to +140 underdogs, which is pretty generous considering their struggles this season. The over/under is set at 6.5, with the over slightly favored.
My best bet for this game is the BayStars on the moneyline. With Bauer on the mound, they've got a significant advantage over the Swallows, who are still trying to find their footing. I'm not expecting Shigekawa to get shellacked, but I do think the BayStars will come out on top.
As for the spread, I'd take the BayStars -1.5 at +100 to -110. They've got the pitching and the offense to cover the spread, and I think they'll win by at least two runs.
The over/under is a bit trickier, but I'd lean towards the under at +100 to -110. Bauer is a strikeout machine, and I think he'll be able to shut down the Swallows' offense. Shigekawa might struggle to keep up with the BayStars' bats, but I think the under is a safer bet.
So, there you have it. BayStars on the moneyline, BayStars -1.5 on the spread, and under 6.5 runs. Let's see how it plays out!
Created: June 1, 2025, 3:09 a.m. GMT