SMBC Japan Series 2026 Game 3: Softbank Hawks vs. DeNA (27th, Mizuho PayPay)

Softbank Hawks aim to take the lead. In the 2024 Japan Series, they suffered four consecutive losses after winning two straight games on the road. In the same situation as two years ago, pitcher Haru Matsumoto, making his first Japan Series start, takes the mound for Game 3 as the battle moves to their home stadium. In the starting lineup under the DH system, outfielder Yuki Yanagita is batting fifth as the DH, while infielder Hotaka Yamakawa, who hit a game-tying solo home run in the ninth inning of Game 2 in Yokohama on the 25th, is playing first base and batting sixth. Pitcher Yuki Matsumoto, who gave up home runs in two consecutive games, was left out of the roster.

Softbank Hawks 's starting line-up is as follows:

1 (Right) Masaki

2 (middle) Zhou Higashi

3 (Left) Konfuji

4 (3) Kurihara

5(D) Yanagita

6 (1) Mountains and Rivers

7 (2) Makihara University

8 (C) Umino

9 (Play) Shoko

Motoharu Haru Matsumoto