Oh Jihwan 2G consecutive excluded → It was consideration for Yeom Kyung-yeop! "It's a card I have to use anyway. I'm taking a break" [Gocheok Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

LG Twins' main shortstop Oh Ji-hwan (36) was not listed in the starting lineup for the second consecutive day. Although it is not a major injury, it is a decision made by LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop (58) that he will not overdo it early in the season due to minor bile symptoms.

LG unveiled its starting lineup ahead of its first away game of the season against the Kiwoom Heroes of the "2026 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League" at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 3rd.

On this day, LG formed batting order in the order of Hong Chang-ki (right wing), Shin Min-jae (second baseman), Austin Dean (first baseman), Moon Bo-kyung (designated hitter), Park Dong-won (captor), Moon Sung-joo (left wing), Chun Sung-ho (third baseman), Koo Bon-hyuk (striker), and Park Hae-min (middle fielder). It is the same lineup as the game against KIA in Jamsil on the previous day (2nd).

The most noticeable part is the shortstop position. Oh Ji-hwan, who was excluded from the selection the previous day due to symptoms of gall, will start the game on the bench again on the day. Coach Yeom Kyung-yeop decided to give Oh Ji-hwan, the team's main shortstop and mental support, a clear recovery time rather than overusing him. Under the belief that "it is a card that should be used importantly throughout the season anyway," he decided that it was a priority to make perfect physical condition at the beginning.

Oh Ji-hwan's absence will be filled by Koo Bon-hyuk, who has been in good condition recently. On third base, Chun Sung-ho started for two consecutive games, adding to the weight of the infield.

On the mound, Yoni Chirinos will recover his honor. Chirinos, who caused concern by collapsing with six runs in one inning in the opening game, fortunately shook off the concern of a side injury and rejoined the starting rotation. As the detailed examination revealed that there was no abnormality, the mound on the day is expected to be an important watershed for the team's three-game winning streak and its soft landing.

Coach Yeom Kyung-yeop, who is set to play on the 3rd, said of Chirinos, "There is no specific limit on the number of pitches. It is of paramount importance that the ball goes into a low course. If you go over the 70th pitch, the hit rate rises, which is also the case when the course tends to increase. He improved in the second half because he kept it in mind last season as well. If you throw it consciously, you will get good results," he explained.

Attention is focusing on whether LG, which won two consecutive wins in three consecutive games against KIA during the week and took the winning series, will be able to announce a pleasant start to the Gocheok away road despite Oh Ji-hwan's absence.

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*This content was translated by AI.