Yomiuri vs Yokohama Baystars Prediction 3 October 2026
📡 Yomiuri return to Tokyo after a 5-1 defeat to Yakult, holding onto second place in the Central League ahead of their final home game. DeNA sit third and haven’t played since September 28, when they wrapped up their series with Hiroshima by suffering a third straight loss. The prediction largely hinges on the starting pitching matchup: the reliable Haruto Inoue faces rookie Shunya Shimada, who carries an ERA north of five.
DeNA have taken eight of the last ten meetings, although Yomiuri still hold the edge in the season series.
📊 The latest ten head-to-heads have been dominated by DeNA, who have claimed eight wins to just two for Yomiuri, outscoring them 45-27. The September series in Yokohama was particularly tough for Yomiuri, with losses of 0-5, 3-4, and 2-13. However, over the course of the season, it’s Yomiuri who still hold the edge at 13-11. So, despite DeNA’s recent surge, this matchup remains highly competitive overall.
Head-to-head statistics Yomiuri - Yokohama Baystars
Tokyo welcome Inoue at the peak of his form and rely on the league’s top pitching staff.
In their last four completed games, Yomiuri have recorded an 11-0 rout of Yakult, a 3-1 win over Hiroshima, a 2-2 draw with Hanshin, and a 1-5 defeat to Yakult. Offensively, they trail DeNA this season with 483 runs scored, a .235 team batting average, and 101 home runs. However, pitching remains Yomiuri’s biggest asset. Their 2.77 ERA leads the league, while 156 holds and 47 saves highlight the depth of their bullpen. At home in Tokyo, Yomiuri also boast a positive record of 39-30-2.
Match Results: Yomiuri Giants
DeNA’s potent offense takes the field after three straight defeats, this time with a rookie starter on the mound.
DeNA boast a far more potent offense: 550 runs scored, a .246 batting average, 125 home runs, and a .375 slugging percentage. Their firepower at the plate has kept them in third place for much of the season, but September ended with a three-game skid-an 8-3 defeat to Hanshin followed by back-to-back losses to Hiroshima, 5-3 and 4-3. The team’s ERA stands at 3.30, notably higher than Yomiuri’s mark, and their road record is just 31-39. After four days without a game, DeNA should be well rested, but questions still linger over the reliability of their starting pitching.
Match Results: Yokohama Dena Baystars
⚾ Starting Pitchers
Haruto Inoue, a left-hander, has started all 22 of his appearances this season, posting a 10-8 record with a stellar 2.11 ERA over 141 innings. He’s allowed 113 hits, struck out 140 batters, surrendered 39 earned runs, and holds an impressive 1.01 WHIP. Inoue has delivered 16 quality starts, including one complete game, though he’s yet to record a shutout. He’s been especially sharp in September, boasting a 1.64 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP across three outings-all of which were quality starts. In his most recent appearance, Inoue worked 7.2 innings against Hiroshima, giving up just one earned run.
Shunya Shimada, a right-hander, is making just his fifth start in NPB: he’s 1-1 with a 5.03 ERA over 19.2 innings, allowing 22 hits, striking out 16, conceding 11 earned runs, and carrying a 1.42 WHIP. Only one of his four outings so far qualifies as a quality start; he has yet to pitch a complete game or record a shutout. Opponents are hitting .278 against him, and with limited experience at the top level, Shimada has struggled to keep traffic off the bases.
⭐ Editor’s Prediction
The last 10 head-to-head meetings are a major argument against this pick: DeNA have claimed eight wins, including three straight over Yomiuri in September. However, the October 3 matchup presents a very different pitching setup. Inoue comes in with a 2.11 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP, and 16 quality starts, allowing very few runs throughout September. Shimada, meanwhile, posts a 5.03 ERA and has delivered just one quality start in his last four outings. DeNA possess more firepower at the plate, but Yomiuri counter with the league’s best team ERA and a much deeper bullpen, plus a consistently positive record at home. If Inoue can contain Yomiuri through the first six or seven innings, the hosts will have an excellent chance to attack Shimada and then protect their lead with strong late-inning relievers. Our pick: Yomiuri to win.
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Betting Tips: Yomiuri Giants - Yokohama Dena Baystars
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