Lotte at SoftBank
AP Sports Preview
FUKUOKA, Japan (Interstat) — The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks look to rebound from a shutout loss when they host the Chiba Lotte Marines on Sunday evening at Fukuoka Yahuoku! Dome.
SoftBank (13-11) enters the 6 p.m. contest holding a three-game advantage over Lotte (10-14) in the Pacific League standings. The Hawks dropped the series opener 5-0 on Saturday, a defeat that snapped a two-game winning streak.
Player to watch, Lotte: Catcher Toshiya Satoh delivered the decisive performance in Saturday’s victory, going 2 for 3 with two home runs and four RBIs. Satoh has been inconsistent this season — he has hits in only three of his past 10 games — but his power display against the Hawks suggests he is a threat at the plate.
Player to watch, SoftBank: Right-hander Naoyuki Uwasawa is scheduled to start Sunday after a rocky outing in Saturday’s loss. Uwasawa lasted six innings, allowing five earned runs on six hits with two strikeouts. He has been sharp in three of his four starts this season, however, including an 8 1/3-inning, one-hit shutout against Orix on April 18.
Series history: The teams have split their four meetings this season. Lotte won the opener 3-2 on April 3, but SoftBank claimed the next two games — 5-2 and 4-3 — before Saturday’s shutout. The Hawks have not lost consecutive games to the Marines since April 2024.
Projections: Interstat’s game simulator forecasts a 4-3 SoftBank victory. Interstat’s ELO system gives the Hawks a 70.70 percent probability to win.
Up next: The series continues Monday with no game scheduled. Lotte returns home to face Rakuten on Tuesday, while SoftBank travels to Orix for a three-game set beginning Tuesday.
Notes: The Marines’ bullpen has been effective in recent outings, with Shuta Takano, Akira Yagi and Yuki Tsumori combining for 5 1/3 scoreless innings Saturday. … SoftBank’s offense managed only three hits in the series opener, all singles. … The Hawks’ pitching staff owns a 2.89 ERA at home this season. … Lotte’s .231 team batting average ranks ninth in the 12-team NPB.