As the KBO postseason begins, both the SSG Landers and Samsung Lions have made notable adjustments to their lineups for the first round series. This matchup kicks off Thursday at Incheon SSG Landers Field, with the fourth-seeded Landers holding home-field advantage. The series is a best-of-five format, heightening the stakes for both teams.
Lineup Adjustments by the Landers
Landers manager Lee Sung-yong has opted to move slugger Choi Jeong from his usual third batting order spot to fifth. This decision comes after Choi’s disappointing performance against Samsung’s pitcher, Choi Won-tae. During the regular season, Choi Jeong faced Won-tae seven times without any hits, registering two walks instead.
- Leadoff hitter: Park Seong-han (3-for-7 vs. Won-tae)
- Second hitter: An Sang-hyun (3-for-6 vs. Won-tae)
- Third hitter: Guillermo Heredia (8-for-11 vs. Won-tae)
- Cleanup hitter: Han Yoo-seom (6-for-14 vs. Won-tae)
Lee also confirmed that left-hander Kim Keon-woo will take the mound for Game 2 instead of ace Drew Anderson, who is recovering from a stomach virus. Kim finished the regular season with a 5-4 record and a 3.82 ERA over 35 appearances, including 13 starts.
Lions Restructuring Their Roster
Lions manager Park Jin-man has made significant strategic changes, validating the need for a shift after an underwhelming performance in the wild card round against the NC Dinos. The Lions secured a 3-1 victory in their latest game, but struggled with only one hit following a leadoff single in the first inning.
- Previous two games: 5 hits in 4-1 loss and 1 hit in 3-1 win
- Homers during regular season: 161
- Homers against the Dinos: 1
In an effort to invigorate the lineup, the Lions will replace second baseman Ryu Ji-hyuk with Yang Do-geun and left fielder Lee Sung-gyu with Kim Tae-hoon. Park emphasized the importance of improving their batting performance, especially against the formidable bullpen of the Landers. He noted that the pressure primarily lies with the higher-seeded team and feels motivated by his players’ practice leading into the series.
Looking Ahead
As the series unfolds, both teams aim to leverage their strengths while adjusting to the pressures of postseason play. The SSG Landers are poised to defend their home turf, while the Samsung Lions seek to flip their recent challenges into opportunities for success.
