Current ratings (all 12 clubs)
This site's own team strength rating puts all 12 clubs of both leagues on a single scale (the all-team average is anchored at 1500). The 'Rank' column orders all 12 clubs by this rating - it is not the official standings position. The 'Since opening' column is the change from the team's value at the start of the season. It is not an official statistic and does not guarantee standings or results.
The 'Last 30 days' and 'vs last week' columns show the change from the value 30 and 7 days earlier (as of the end of that day). When the season does not yet cover a window, or there were no games in the period, the cell shows '—'.
| Rank | Team | League | Rating | Since opening | Last 30 days | vs last week | W - L - T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SoftBank | Pacific League | +16.3 | ↑+0.3 | ↓−0.8 | 69 - 41 - 2 | |
| 2 | Hanshin | Central League | +4.0 | ↑+5.3 | ↑+3.3 | 63 - 47 - 1 | |
| 3 | Nippon-Ham | Pacific League | +5.7 | ↓−1.3 | ↓−3.1 | 63 - 52 - 1 | |
| 4 | Yomiuri | Central League | +5.0 | ↓−4.0 | ↓−0.8 | 60 - 51 - 2 | |
| 5 | Seibu | Pacific League | +33.1 | ↑+6.3 | ↑+5.5 | 65 - 48 - 3 | |
| 6 | ORIX | Pacific League | −5.4 | ↓−2.8 | ↓−0.4 | 55 - 57 - 2 | |
| 7 | DeNA | Central League | −14.1 | ↑+3.2 | ↓−1.5 | 50 - 59 - 3 | |
| 8 | Lotte | Pacific League | +7.0 | ↑+5.0 | ↑+1.9 | 51 - 55 - 3 | |
| 9 | Rakuten | Pacific League | −23.9 | ↓−7.5 | ↓−3.1 | 43 - 67 - 1 | |
| 10 | Chunichi | Central League | −8.6 | ↑+2.8 | 0.0 | 49 - 65 - 1 | |
| 11 | Yakult | Central League | −9.0 | ↓−8.1 | ↓−4.7 | 50 - 60 - 1 | |
| 12 | Hiroshima | Central League | −10.1 | ↑+0.8 | ↑+3.6 | 44 - 60 - 4 |
Rating timeline this season
Values are as of the end of each game day; all 12 clubs share one chart. The bold dashed line is the anchor value 1500, with faint guide lines at 1450 and 1550.
Rating history over the past 20 seasons (2006-2025)
Values are as of the end of each month, with lines drawn straight across the offseason. The chart is split into Central and Pacific League panels for readability, and both share the same vertical scale. The bold dashed line is the anchor value 1500, with faint guide lines at 1450 and 1550.
Strongest teams, 2006-2025 - top 10 by in-season peak Elo
Ranked by the highest value reached during each season (measured after games). Only completed seasons in the covered window are eligible; the season in progress is not included. Team names are shown as they were at the time.
| Rank | Year | Team | Peak Elo | Reached on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | 1578.1 | Sep 16 |
| 2 | 2015 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | 1569.2 | Sep 21 |
| 3 | 2016 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | 1567.3 | Jun 30 |
| 4 | 2009 | Yomiuri Giants | 1565.5 | Sep 27 |
| 5 | 2025 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | 1560.8 | Sep 18 |
| 6 | 2012 | Yomiuri Giants | 1560.4 | Sep 25 |
| 7 | 2013 | Yomiuri Giants | 1558.8 | Sep 12 |
| 8 | 2010 | Yomiuri Giants | 1556.6 | May 16 |
| 9 | 2020 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | 1556.1 | Nov 4 |
| 10 | 2018 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | 1556.1 | Oct 8 |
Highest so far this season: SoftBank at 1567.6 (reached Wed, Aug 12)
Weakest teams, 2006-2025 - bottom 10 by in-season lowest Elo
Ranked by the lowest value reached during each season (measured after games), lowest first. Only completed seasons in the covered window are eligible; the season in progress is not included. Team names are shown as they were at the time.
| Rank | Year | Team | Lowest Elo | Reached on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2010 | Yokohama BayStars | 1420.3 | Oct 6 |
| 2 | 2011 | Yokohama BayStars | 1420.4 | Sep 11 |
| 3 | 2006 | Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles | 1426.0 | Aug 15 |
| 4 | 2012 | Yokohama DeNA BayStars | 1427.0 | Sep 19 |
| 5 | 2017 | Tokyo Yakult Swallows | 1432.2 | Oct 3 |
| 6 | 2009 | Yokohama BayStars | 1434.5 | Oct 7 |
| 7 | 2008 | Yokohama BayStars | 1441.9 | Oct 3 |
| 8 | 2013 | Yokohama DeNA BayStars | 1443.1 | Jun 9 |
| 9 | 2024 | Saitama Seibu Lions | 1443.2 | Aug 13 |
| 10 | 2018 | Tokyo Yakult Swallows | 1443.5 | May 25 |
Lowest so far this season: Chunichi at 1457.4 (recorded Sat, Jun 13)
Best and worst years by club (2006-2025)
For each club, the year of its highest in-season value (best year) and of its lowest (worst year). Ties go to the more recent year. Clubs appear under their current names (earlier years may have used a different name).
Each panel shows one club: the shaded band spans the season's highest to lowest value, and the thick line is the value at the end of each season. ▲ marks the best year (highest in-season value) and ▼ the worst year, each labeled in the form value (year). All panels share the same vertical scale; the bold dashed line is the anchor value 1500, with faint guide lines at 1450 and 1550.
View as a table
| Team | League | Peak Elo (year) | Lowest Elo (year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanshin | Central League | 1549.8 (2008) | 1471.4 (2016) |
| Yomiuri | Central League | 1565.5 (2009) | 1469.6 (2006) |
| DeNA | Central League | 1514.9 (2023) | 1420.3 (2010) |
| Yakult | Central League | 1539.1 (2022) | 1432.2 (2017) |
| Chunichi | Central League | 1542.2 (2006) | 1457.4 (2017) |
| Hiroshima | Central League | 1554.3 (2018) | 1457.1 (2007) |
| SoftBank | Pacific League | 1578.1 (2017) | 1485.4 (2009) |
| Seibu | Pacific League | 1549.7 (2018) | 1443.2 (2024) |
| Nippon-Ham | Pacific League | 1550.4 (2016) | 1465.0 (2023) |
| ORIX | Pacific League | 1550.0 (2023) | 1453.2 (2007) |
| Lotte | Pacific League | 1536.9 (2006) | 1458.4 (2017) |
| Rakuten | Pacific League | 1535.3 (2013) | 1426.0 (2006) |
How to read the team strength rating
This is the site's own team strength metric, based on the Elo rating concept that originated with the world chess rankings and is now used across many sports. The scale is designed so the all-team average sits at the anchor value of 1500: ratings rise with wins and fall with losses, rising more for beating a strong opponent and falling more for losing to a weak one.
As a rule of thumb on the standard Elo scale, a 50-point gap corresponds to an expected single-game winning rate of about 57%, 100 points to about 64%, and 200 points to about 76%. Rating gaps translate into smaller win-rate differences than they may look - that conversion is the key to reading the numbers.
Single games move the number only slightly by design, so visible swings take a winning or losing stretch. Read it as a measure of season-long underlying strength rather than short-term momentum.
How it differs from the standings
Standings are decided by winning percentage; the rating also weighs who you beat. The same single win pushes the rating up more when it comes against a strong opponent. The season-opening value also carries over what came before, so the 12 clubs do not start each season in a dead heat.
As a result, the rating order and the standings order do not always agree. Spotting a club that sits high in the table but low in the rating - or the reverse - is part of the fun of this metric.
Both leagues on a single scale
Clubs in different leagues cannot be compared through the standings, but this rating is a reference value that places all 12 clubs on one scale - letting you eyeball questions the standings cannot answer, like which league leader is stronger.
It does not settle which league is superior, though. Treat it as a rough guide estimated from game results, with a healthy margin of error.
Reading the 'strongest and weakest teams' tables (last 20 seasons)
The strongest-teams table ranks the highest value each club reached during a season within the covered period (measured after games). Even a champion can log its peak early if it fades late. Read it as a gauge of how dominant a given year's team was.
The weakest-teams table is its mirror image: the lowest value reached during each season, lowest first. The best-and-worst-years table then shows, for each club, the years it recorded its highest and lowest in-season values.
Playing conditions differ across eras, so comparisons across years are not exact. Team names are shown as they were at the time.
Frequently asked questions
What is an Elo rating?
A skill-rating concept that originated with the world chess rankings: ratings rise with wins and fall with losses, and beating a stronger opponent is worth more. The values on this page are this site's own team strength metric built on that concept, anchored so the all-team average is 1500.
Is this an official rating?
No. It is a reference metric this site computes independently from game results. It is not an official statistic of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) or its clubs, and it does not guarantee standings or results.
How is it different from the pennant odds?
The rating condenses current team strength into a single number, while the odds board estimates outcomes with the remaining schedule factored in. Even with evenly matched strength, the odds swing widely with games left, head-to-head matchups and the current cushion. Comparing the two can reveal cases like a strong team with surprisingly low odds.
What does the number 1500 mean?
It is the anchor value the scale is built around: the all-team average sits at 1500. Above it means stronger than average, below it weaker. A gap of a few dozen points means roughly 'somewhat favored head-to-head' - it is not an absolute pecking order.