Here is a look at the current state of each team, including last week’s MVP picks by beat reporters, this week’s highlights, roster moves, and farm team updates.
Central League managers
Yakult’s Yamano Taichi (photo taken May 7, 2026)
**Yakult: Last Week’s MVP & This Week’s Preview – Yamano Taichi “I want to win” as rematch with Hanshin’s Takahashi Haruto on the 13th looks likely, seeking revenge**
Hanshin’s Takahashi Haruto (photo taken May 7, 2026)
**Hanshin: Last Week’s MVP & This Week’s Preview – Takahashi Haruto aims for fourth straight shutout, which would be the first in 61 years; also looking to shut down league-leading Yakult**
Giants’ Norimoto Takahiro (photo taken April 14, 2026)
**Giants: Last Week’s MVP & This Week’s Preview – With more than 10 days of rest after a “planned break,” Norimoto Takahiro, Takemaru Kazuyuki, and Inoue Haruta are expected to deliver strong starts**
DeNA’s Miyazaki Toshiro (photo taken March 10, 2026)
**DeNA: Last Week’s MVP & This Week’s Preview – Aiming for a top-three finish, direct showdown with third-place Giants; want to strike first with the Central League’s best batting average and run-scoring lineup**
Hiroshima’s Tokoda Hiroki (photo taken April 29, 2026)
**Hiroshima: Last Week’s MVP & This Week’s Preview – Tokoda Hiroki and Tamamura Shogo make triumphant returns to the mound in Gifu and Fukui, where they first opened the door to professional baseball**
Chunichi’s Kanemaru Yume (photo taken April 21, 2026)
**Chunichi: Last Week’s MVP & This Week’s Preview – Kanemaru Yume leads all 12 teams with a walk rate of 0.92 and has posted four straight HQS; aiming for his third consecutive win with pinpoint control**
{illustration: Central League week-in-review, May 4-10}
**Roster & Farm Team Updates**
**[Central League Roster & Farm News]** DeNA’s Tsutsugo Yoshitomo returns to game action; Hanshin’s first-round pick Tateishi Masahiro takes live BP at-bats.
**[Pacific League Roster & Farm News]** Seibu’s Kuwarahara Masatoshi could return to game action on the 15th; Nippon Ham’s Arihara Yuhei pitched in a farm game but still has issues to address.
**Pacific League: Last Week’s MVP & This Week’s Preview – Is the “good luck bug” effect real for league-leading Orix?**