'Seven-game winning streak turns to seven-game losing streak': Samsung's bats are stubbornly cold. Is an average of two runs per game even real? Will the return of 'a thousand troops and ten thousand horses' Kim Sung-yoon bring hope?

*This content was translated by AI.

The Samsung Lions have plunged into a losing streak, swinging between extremes. The momentum of a seven-game winning streak has vanished, and the 'constipation baseball' of a lineup that goes silent whenever chances arise is holding them back.

On the 26th, Samsung lost 0-2 to the Kiwoom Heroes in a '2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League' match held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul, failing to score a single run. With this defeat, Samsung has now lost seven consecutive games, following a 0-5 blowout loss to Daegu LG on the 19th. Despite a record of 12 wins, 1 tie, and 11 losses (winning percentage 0.522), a red light has been flashing on their ability to maintain a .500 winning percentage.

Earlier, Samsung appeared to be laying the groundwork for a leap to the top of the standings, posting a seven-game winning streak from the 10th against Daegu NC to the 18th against Daegu LG. However, from the 19th to the 26th, they failed to secure a single victory in seven games, recording a seven-game losing streak.

The primary cause of the losing streak is clearly reflected in the statistics. During this losing streak, Samsung's team batting average remained at 0.242, a level comparable to 7th in the league, but their concentration with runners on base was disastrous. With runners on base, the batting average plummeted to 0.178, and especially with runners in scoring position, it collapsed to 0.127, leaving them at the bottom of the league.

With a batting average in the early 10s during clutch situations, their ability to produce runs hit rock bottom. Samsung managed only 14 runs total during the losing streak, averaging just two runs per game. The frustrating pattern of failing to bring in runners even when they were on base continued, causing them to repeatedly lose control of the game.

Park Jin-man (50), Samsung's manager, is well aware of this. Manager Park stated, "The problem ultimately seems to be the lineup. They create many chances but fail to capitalize, causing the game to spiral and putting the pitchers in difficult situations late in the game. Ultimately, the core lineup needs to deliver, and that part is somewhat disappointing." However, they ultimately failed to turn things around.

The pitching mound also came under pressure as tight games continued due to insufficient support from the lineup. During this period, the team's ERA (ERA) soared to 4.57 (8th in the league), allowing a total of 33 runs. The evaluation is that the pitching staff was insufficient to withstand the pressure when the lineup could only manage two runs per game.

As the disparity between offense and defense worsened, a red light also flashed on Samsung's race for the standings. Samsung, which had accumulated wins through a winning streak only to surrender them entirely through a losing streak, now faces the urgent task of a complete atmosphere overhaul. To break the seven-game losing streak, restoring the power-hitting ability of the core lineup and regaining concentration in scoring position situations are expected to be the top priorities.

Ultimately, starting position players who have been sidelined must return. According to Manager Park Jin-man, the return of outfielder Kim Sung-yoon (27) is the most imminent. Kim Sung-yoon is expected to check his game readiness in the Futures League match against LG in Icheon on the 27th, and could be eligible for registration with the first division as early as the 28th in the Jamsil Doosan match.

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*This content was translated by AI.