HAWKS, MARINES SET FOR SUNDAY RUBBER MATCH IN CHIBA

CHIBA, Japan (Interstat) — The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks look to secure a series win against the Chiba Lotte Marines on Sunday evening in the finale of a three-game set at Chiba Marine Stadium.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. under forecasted rainy conditions and a temperature of 63 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Pacific League rivals have split the first two contests. The Marines (4-4) took a 3-2 victory on Friday before the Hawks (6-2) responded with a 5-2 win on Saturday.

A pitching rematch from Saturday’s game highlights the series decider. SoftBank’s Haru Matsumoto (2-0, 2.08 ERA) gets the nod after a stellar performance just two days prior, holding Lotte to one earned run over seven strong innings. In his last start against the Marines, he allowed five hits and struck out six.

He will face Lotte’s Haruya Tanaka (1-1, 0.00 ERA), who was brilliant in a hard-luck loss on Saturday. Tanaka pitched six scoreless innings, allowing only three hits and striking out eight, but did not factor in the decision after the bullpen faltered.

The Hawks enter with the league’s best record, having won six of their last seven games. Outfielder Tatsuru Yanagimachi, who drove in three runs in Saturday’s victory, provides a key bat in the lineup.

The Marines, sitting at .500, have seen inconsistent results but possess a potent arm in Tanaka. Their bullpen, which surrendered five runs in the eighth inning Saturday, will be under scrutiny.

According to Interstat, the Hawks are projected favorites with a 67.8% win probability. The service’s game simulator predicts an 8-4 SoftBank victory.

Following the game, the Hawks return to Fukuoka to host the Saitama Seibu Lions for a three-game series starting Tuesday. The Marines embark on a road trip, opening a three-game set against the Orix Buffaloes in Osaka on Tuesday.