SMBC Nippon Series 2026: Hawks vs. BayStars in Game 3

The SMBC Nippon Series moves to Fukuoka for Game 3 on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks hosting the Yokohama DeNA BayStars at Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Japan Standard Time (JST, UTC+09:00), which is 09:00 UTC. The Hawks arrive with a 2–0 lead after taking the first two games in Yokohama, 3–1 and 4–3. NPB lists the third game for 18:00 in Fukuoka, and the club’s event page confirms the venue and date. See the official NPB Game 3 schedule and the BayStars’ Nippon Series event page for updates.

Why Game 3 matters

This is the first game of the 2026 series in Fukuoka after the opening pair at Yokohama Stadium. The championship is decided in a best-of-seven format, with the first club to four wins taking the title. A Hawks win would extend their edge to 3–0 and put them one victory from the championship. A BayStars win would make the series 2–1 and give the visitors a way back into the contest before Game 4.

The first two results leave little room to call the matchup settled. SoftBank won the opener by two runs and the second game by one, according to the BayStars’ series schedule. DeNA’s task is to turn a narrow game into its first win; the Hawks can use their home opener to build on the early lead. The venue change also means a different setting for the teams: SoftBank gets its first series game in front of its home crowd, while DeNA must respond on the road.

Confirmed starting pitchers

Fukuoka SoftBank has announced left-hander Haru Matsumoto, and Yokohama DeNA has announced left-hander Katsuki Azuma. The Hawks’ official scoreboard lists Matsumoto and Azuma for Game 3, while the Pacific League’s pregame preview gives their 2026 regular-season records as 12–3 with a 2.66 ERA for Matsumoto and 12–6 with a 2.40 ERA for Azuma. They each won 12 games, although their earned-run averages and loss totals differ. The Hawks’ official Game 3 page and the Pacific League preview provide the matchup and season context.

For Matsumoto, the first assignment is to keep the BayStars from taking an early lead and changing the feel of the game. Azuma faces a Hawks lineup that has started the series with two wins. Both starters are left-handed, so the opening innings should be watched for how each pitcher handles the opposing hitters’ first trips through the order. The announced starters are confirmed; later pitching decisions and the batting orders can still affect the matchup, so check the official game page for lineups as they are posted.

What to watch in Fukuoka

Can DeNA make the first move?

A 2–0 deficit makes the first scoring chance more important for the BayStars, but it does not make the game a must-win in the literal sense: a best-of-seven series continues until one team reaches four victories. DeNA can put pressure back on the Hawks by getting runners on early and making Matsumoto work. If the first few innings stay scoreless, the visitors still have time to change the game with one swing or a rally later on.

Can the Hawks keep the margin tight?

SoftBank does not need to chase a large lead to protect its advantage. The first two games ended 3–1 and 4–3, so another low-margin game is a realistic possibility, though those results do not guarantee the same pattern. Watch whether the Hawks can add a run when scoring chances appear and whether the team can limit free baserunners. For DeNA, keeping the game within reach late would make the 2–0 series score less visible on the field and give its hitters another opportunity.

How the home setting changes the atmosphere

Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka is the Hawks’ home venue, and Game 3 is the series’ first stop there. That gives SoftBank the familiar surroundings and home support, but the dome itself does not decide the result. DeNA has already shown it can stay close, and the opening two scores suggest fans should watch each scoring opportunity rather than expect a rout. The key shift in this game is the location and the chance for one side to change the series’ direction.

TV and streaming options

For viewers in Japan, NPB’s published Game 3 listing names TBS and NHK-BS for television, with U-NEXT and TVer for online viewing. TBS’s schedule lists its program from 5:50 p.m. JST, ten minutes before the scheduled first pitch. U-NEXT also lists a 5:50 p.m. JST live start and says a monthly plan is required; it explicitly says its stream is not available from overseas. Check the NPB broadcast announcement, TBS program listing, and U-NEXT’s viewing notice before game time, since channel and platform schedules can change.

Those listings describe Japanese coverage, not a confirmed international feed. If you are watching outside Japan, check an authorized broadcaster or streaming service in your region; do not assume that a Japanese app will work abroad. For game status rather than video, the NPB schedule and Hawks’ official scoreboard are useful options. The NPB page also provides the series schedule and can be checked for changes if the start time or game status is updated.

Game 3 at a glance: Tuesday, October 27, 2026; 6:00 p.m. JST (UTC+09:00), or 09:00 UTC; Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka; Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks vs. Yokohama DeNA BayStars; announced starters Haru Matsumoto and Katsuki Azuma. The Hawks lead the series 2–0, while DeNA is looking for its first win.