Preview: Golden Eagles at Hawks, April 15, 2026

FUKUOKA, Japan (Interstat) — The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks look to snap a two-game skid against the Pacific League rival Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles when the teams meet again Wednesday night at Fukuoka Yahuoku! Dome.

The Hawks (10-5-1) saw a three-game win streak end with a 3-2 loss to the Eagles on Tuesday. SoftBank holds a half-game lead in the standings over the Eagles (8-6-1), who have won two straight.

A marquee pitching rematch is set for Wednesday, just one day after the clubs opened their series. Rakuten’s Kosei Shoji (3-0, 2.57 ERA) gets the nod on short rest after earning the win Tuesday with five solid innings, allowing two runs on four hits with six strikeouts. The right-hander has been dominant this season, including an eight-inning, nine-strikeout shutout performance against Orix on March 27.

He will face SoftBank’s Carter Stewart Jr. (2-1, 4.24 ERA), who took the loss Tuesday after surrendering two runs on five hits over 4 2/3 innings. The former first-round MLB draft pick seeks a sharper outing after struggling with command in the series opener.

The Hawks have dominated the recent head-to-head matchup, winning six of the last 10 meetings. However, the Eagles have taken two of the first three contests this season, including a dramatic 5-4 comeback win on April 2.

According to Interstat, the Hawks are projected favorites with a 67.6% probability to win. The outlet’s game simulator predicts a 6-5 SoftBank victory.

Following Wednesday’s game, the teams conclude their three-game series Thursday before each embarks on a stretch against other Pacific League opponents.