Chunichi vs Yokohama Baystars Prediction 13 August 2026
📡 The teams have split the opening two games of the series. Chunichi struck first with a 5-2 win, but DeNA bounced back with a 6-3 victory to reclaim the edge in their head-to-head this season. On Thursday, the home side will send Yumeto Kanemaru to the mound, a pitcher known for his ability to go deep into games. DeNA counter with Osuke Fukasawa, who boasts a 2.78 ERA. The prediction here leans toward the visitors, based on their head-to-head record and a more productive offense.
Head-to-Head
📊 Chunichi trail DeNA 8-10-1 in head-to-head meetings, with runs at 52:63. The visitors hold a slight but consistent edge: they’ve claimed more wins, scored 11 more runs, and outperformed Chunichi in average scoring across these matchups. After two games, the current series remains deadlocked.
Head-to-head statistics Chunichi - Yokohama Baystars
Chunichi Dragons Team Overview
Chunichi sit fifth in the standings with a 45-59-1 record. After a strong start to the series, they conceded six runs to DeNA on Wednesday and once again slipped behind their rivals in the head-to-head matchup. In this season’s series, the hosts are batting just .203, and with only 52 runs scored across 19 games, it’s clear their offense consistently struggles to capitalize on baserunners.
Match Results: Chunichi Dragons
Yokohama Dena Baystars Team Overview
DeNA bounced back to winning ways and held on to third place in the Central League with a 47-53-3 record. In head-to-head matchups, they own a 2.48 ERA against Chunichi, conceding 52 runs while scoring 63 themselves. After dropping the series opener, the visitors responded immediately in Game 2, allowing them to approach the decisive clash without needing to alter their overall game plan.
Match Results: Yokohama Dena Baystars
⚾ Starting Pitchers
Yumeto Kanemaru, the lefty for Chunichi, enters with a 2.50 ERA over 18 starts and a 5-8 record. Across 115.1 innings, he’s allowed 116 hits, struck out 103 batters, and conceded 36 runs, posting a 1.18 WHIP. Impressively, Kanemaru has delivered 14 quality starts this season and issued just 20 walks in those 115.1 frames.
On the mound for DeNA is right-hander Osuke Fukasawa, who owns a 2.78 ERA through six starts, going 3-1. He’s logged 32.1 innings, giving up 33 hits with 20 strikeouts and 15 runs, and carries a 1.27 WHIP. Fukasawa’s highlight is a complete-game shutout, and he’s surrendered just one home run across his six starts.
⭐ Editorial Prediction
Kanemaru gives Chunichi a solid platform to start from, so DeNA don’t have a clear edge here. That said, the hosts have only taken eight of the last 19 head-to-head matchups and their offense has looked limited again in this series. Fukasawa isn’t a strikeout machine, but he rarely gives up big hits and boasts a 3-1 record with a 2.78 ERA. DeNA have made better use of their chances against Chunichi, putting up 11 more runs in the season series and coming into this decider with renewed momentum after scoring six yesterday. Unless Kanemaru manages to deliver seven or eight dominant innings, DeNA’s lineup depth should prove decisive down the stretch. The pick is for a DeNA win.
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Betting Tips: Chunichi Dragons - Yokohama Dena Baystars
in 8 of last 9 Chunichi Dragons home games (NPB).in 9 of last 10 games (NPB).
