[1] A gambling scandal involving members of the Yomiuri Giants was reported in October.
Pitchers Satoshi Fukuda, Shoki Kasahara, and Ryuya Matsumoto were found to have bet on both NPB games and Major League Baseball games, as well as high school baseball.
The players involved were received suspensions, and members of team management resigned to take responsibility for the scandal.
The team with the higher regular-season standing also advanced if the round ended in a tie.
Yomiuri Giants (1) vs. Yokohama DeNA BayStars (2) Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (2) vs. Chiba Lotte Marines (0) Hiroshima Toyo Carp (4) vs. Yokohama DeNA BayStars (1) Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (4) vs. Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (2) Hiroshima Toyo Carp (2) vs. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (4) [7]