Hawks vs. BayStars Game 3: Start Time, Starters and How to Watch

Updated October 27, 2026: The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks host the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in Game 3 of the SMBC Japan Series 2026 on Tuesday, October 27, at Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka. Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) lists the game for 6:00 p.m. Japan Standard Time (JST, UTC+09:00), which is 09:00 UTC on the same date. The Hawks have won the first two games and lead the best-of-seven series 2–0.

Game 3 at a glance

Why this game matters

The Japan Series is NPB’s championship round, played as a best-of-seven series: the first club to win four games takes the title. Game 3 is the first at the Hawks’ home ballpark after the opening games in Yokohama. The BayStars’ official series page lists the first two scores as DeNA 1–3 Fukuoka and DeNA 3–4 Fukuoka, so both were close decisions. In those listings, DeNA appears first and the Hawks second.

A Fukuoka win would make the series 3–0 and put the Hawks one victory from the championship. A Yokohama win would cut the margin to 2–1 and give the BayStars a result before the series continues in Fukuoka. The remaining schedule is conditional: a Game 4 or Game 5 is needed only if the series has not already been decided. The BayStars’ official series page shows the game results and planned dates.

First pitch, game start, and Fukuoka time

For the event listing, use 6:00 p.m. JST (UTC+09:00) on October 27, equivalent to 09:00 UTC on October 27. The date does not change in the UTC conversion. Japan follows JST at UTC+09:00 on this date, with no daylight-saving adjustment; the IANA Asia/Tokyo time-zone record documents the Japan rule.

There is a small timing distinction for people following the ceremony and the game itself. NPB lists the Game 3 start at 18:00. The Hawks’ official event rundown schedules a ceremonial first pitch for 6:01 p.m. JST (09:01 UTC) and game play for 6:03 p.m. JST (09:03 UTC), and says its timetable is approximate and may change. In baseball coverage, “first pitch” can refer to the ceremonial throw or the opening pitch of play; check the live broadcast if you need the exact moment play begins.

The venue is Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka, the Hawks’ home ground. The club’s event page lists doors opening at 4:00 p.m. JST (07:00 UTC) ahead of the 6:00 p.m. listed game slot. Fans attending in person should rely on their ticket and the club’s current access notices for entry details.

Who is starting for each team?

The Pacific League’s pregame listing names left-hander Haru Matsumoto for the Hawks and left-hander Katsuki Azuma for the BayStars. It lists Matsumoto with a 12–3 record and a 2.66 ERA, and Azuma with a 12–6 record and a 2.40 ERA. ERA means earned-run average: the average number of earned runs a pitcher allows per nine innings. These figures provide a snapshot of the starters’ listed season records, not a prediction of the game.

Both teams begin with a left-handed starter, but the starter announcement does not tell the whole story. The batting order, defensive lineup, and which relief pitchers are available can affect how the game develops. Check the NPB English game page or the clubs’ official match information for the confirmed lineup and live score. The Pacific League Game 3 preview carries the announced starter matchup and the listed pitching records.

Where to watch or follow the score

For viewers in Japan, NPB’s official broadcast notice lists TBS and NHK BS for television and U-NEXT and TVer for online viewing. TBS schedules its Game 3 program from 5:50 p.m. JST (08:50 UTC); U-NEXT also lists a 5:50 p.m. JST (08:50 UTC) live stream. The Hawks’ October broadcast schedule confirms the Game 3 outlets, and the TVer live page lists the broadcast. Those domestic listings do not establish that the same services are available in every country, so viewers outside Japan should check local rights and provider access.

If you are new to baseball coverage, follow the inning, the score, and the number of outs first. A box score adds each team’s runs, hits, and errors; it helps distinguish the final score from the number of hits. For a quick pregame check, note the series score, confirm the start time in the venue’s time zone, and open an official scoreboard or broadcaster close to the game. Do not treat the planned Game 4–7 dates as guaranteed games, and do not confuse the ceremonial pitch with the start of live play.

Official sources

NPB’s Japan Series information page provides the format and schedule. For Game 3 timing and live updates, use the NPB Japanese game page and the Hawks’ official event page. The BayStars’ series page tracks the Yokohama club’s schedule and results, while the Pacific League preview identifies the scheduled pitchers.