Yutaro Ishida to Face Naoyuki Uwasawa in Japan Series Game 1

The Yokohama DeNA BayStars have named Yutaro Ishida as their Game 1 starter for the 2026 Japan Series, giving the 24-year-old right-hander the ball ahead of ace Katsuki Azuma. The defending champion Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks will counter with Naoyuki Uwasawa when the best-of-seven championship opens at Yokohama Stadium on Saturday, October 24, at 6:30 p.m. Japan time.

The pitching announcement on Friday puts two very different seasons on the mound: Ishida has been a steady presence for a BayStars team that fought its way through the Central League playoffs, while Uwasawa helped anchor a SoftBank club seeking a second consecutive Japan Series title.

Why DeNA chose Ishida for Game 1

Ishida went 5-8 with a 2.91 ERA in 20 regular-season appearances, striking out 117 batters in 120 2/3 innings. His win-loss record hardly tells the full story of a season in which he became a dependable member of the rotation.

DeNA manager Ryoji Aikawa acknowledged Azuma’s work as the staff’s central figure throughout the season but explained that Ishida had pitched well over the year and had more energy remaining for the opener. Ishida also earned the win in Game 2 of the Climax Series first stage against Yomiuri, allowing one run over five innings.

It is a significant assignment for a young pitcher whose team finished third in the Central League before knocking out Yomiuri and league champion Hanshin to reach the final. DeNA is trying to repeat its 2024 postseason run, when it defeated SoftBank to win the Japan Series.

Uwasawa brings experience to SoftBank’s title defense

Uwasawa enters the opener with the stronger regular-season numbers: 10 wins, four losses and a 2.39 ERA in 22 appearances. He pitched 135 1/3 innings and struck out 129, giving manager Hiroki Kokubo an established starter for the first game on the road.

Kokubo pointed to Uwasawa’s ability to keep a game under control as a crucial quality in a short series. The right-hander already has recent Japan Series experience, having worked six innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts in Game 2 of the 2025 championship.

SoftBank also has considerable firepower behind him. Kensuke Kondo hit .300 with 30 home runs and 100 RBIs in the regular season and carried a .400 average through the Pacific League Climax Series, according to the league’s official preview.

A familiar matchup, a new opening duel

DeNA and SoftBank meet in the Japan Series for the second time in three seasons. The first two games are scheduled for Yokohama before the series moves to Fukuoka for Games 3 through 5. The opening pitching matchup offers the BayStars a chance to set the tone at home, while Uwasawa will try to give the Hawks an immediate advantage in their title defense.