DAEGU: Both the Samsung Lions and the LG Twins have made significant changes to their pitching rotations in response to the postponement of their Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason game, which was delayed due to rain. The adjustments reflect a strategic shift as the teams prepare for the rescheduled games.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Game 2 of the best-of-five series, originally set for Monday at Daegu Samsung Lions Park, was moved to Tuesday following the weather disruption. This shift prompted both teams to rethink their approach to their pitching lineups.
The Samsung Lions have moved Lee Seung-hyun, initially slated to start in Game 3, to the bullpen, with manager Park Jin-man citing Lee’s effective performance against left-handed hitters as the key reason for this decision. Park’s strategy comes after observing Lee’s handling of left-handed batters during Sunday’s game, despite a challenging moment where a potential inning-ending play was missed by first baseman Lewin Diaz.
Replacin
g Lee, right-hander Hwang Dong-jae will now start Game 3, which has been rescheduled to Thursday at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. This marks Hwang’s first postseason start, following a regular season where he posted a 4.07 ERA over 15 games.
On the LG Twins’ side, manager Youm Kyoung-youb has adjusted his pitching roster by delaying Dietrich Enns’ start, originally planned for Game 2, to later in the series. In his place, Son Ju-young, who has been effective both as a starter and a reliever in the postseason, will take the mound on Tuesday.
Son, who will be pitching on three days’ rest, has demonstrated strong performances against the Lions during the regular season, holding a 2-0 record and a 1.04 ERA over three starts against them. This adjustment is part of the Twins’ strategy to capitalize on Son’s recent form and stamina, having thrown only 29 pitches in his last appearance.
These tactical changes by both teams highlight the importance of adaptability in postseason play, as each team aims to lever
age their pitching strengths in response to unexpected schedule changes and their opponents’ lineup.