Will Rogowski struck out six over seven one-run innings as the CTBC Brothers beat the TSMC Hawks 12–1 on Oct. 4, clinching the CPBL’s second-half crown and a one-win advantage when the Uni-President Lions arrive at Taichung Intercontinental on Oct. 9 for the opening challenge-series game.
Ticket resale platforms reported a spike in listings for the Oct. 9 game within hours of the clincher, prompting the league to remind fans that QR codes remain tied to purchaser IDs under CPBL’s anti-scalping policy.
How the bracket sets
Wei Chuan Dragons finished the regular season atop the table and await the Taiwan Series, while Brothers — despite a last-place first half — earned the second playoff slot as half-season champions. Uni-Lions claimed the third seed on overall record, setting up a rematch of the 2017 challenge round.
SETN reported the series schedule: Game 1 at Intercontinental on Oct. 9, Game 2 in Tainan on Oct. 10, and Games 3–4 back in Taichung on Oct. 11–12 if needed. Because Brothers hold a plus-one win, Uni-Lions must take three of four possible games to advance.
Rogowski’s season
Liberty Times noted Rogowski’s 12th victory secured the league’s win title weeks before the Taiwan Series, capping a turnaround for a Brothers club that sat 17.5 games back at the first-half break. Manager Pingye Huiyi credited a tightened rotation and improved bullpen matchups after July’s second-half reset.
Uni-Lions skipper Lin Yueh-ping limited starter Jordan Hicks to three innings in the regular-season finale to preserve him for Game 1, confirming that foreign arms Jon Odom and another import will carry the playoff load without reliever Sharp Lions returning this year.
Storylines for Game 1
Brothers fans packed infield seats for Sunday’s clincher, and the front office said additional standing-room sections may open if demand stays high. Lions supporters will bus to Taichung hoping to steal the opener and force Brothers to use their head-start immediately.
A Brothers victory would set up a potential first-ever Taiwan Series between Wei Chuan and CTBC — the “Dragon-Elephant” matchup that has never occurred for the championship despite decades of CPBL history.
Betting on pitching depth
Both clubs finished among the top three in team ERA, but Brothers’ half-season momentum and home-field edge make them slight favorites in local sportsbooks. Rain is not in the Central Weather Administration forecast for Friday night, so a full house at Intercontinental looks likely for the league’s most unexpected turnaround story of 2026.