*This content was translated by AI.
'First-place' Samsung Lions will face the Doosan Bears in a three-game series this weekend. Having just fought a surprisingly intense battle against 'last-place' Kiwoom Heroes, the team now urgently needs its starting pitchers to log long innings.
Samsung will begin a three-game away series against Doosan at Seoul Jamsil Stadium starting on the 24th. This series has drawn significant attention as Samsung's starting rotation—Chris Feddeks, Won Tae-in, and Austin Bost—is scheduled to take the mound consecutively.
However, an unexpected variable has emerged. While Samsung endured a grueling battle against Kiwoom at Gocheok during the week, Doosan was able to rest fully for two days thanks to rain-cancelled games, allowing them to recharge their energy.
Samsung defeated Kiwoom 3-1 in an 11-inning thriller on the 23rd, but the bullpen was severely depleted. Closer Kim Jae-yoon entered the game in the bottom of the ninth with one out and bases loaded, pitching 2⅔ innings until the 11th while throwing 29 pitches. He is effectively unable to start against Doosan on the 24th. Manager Park Jin-man (50) even indicated he would rest Lee Seung-min and right-hander Lee Seung-hyun to ensure they perform at their best. Kim Tae-hoon, part of the 'winning trio,' also did not pitch consecutively but appeared in two of the three games during the Gocheok series.
As a result, Chris Feddeks faces immense pressure as the starter on the 24th. If Feddeks cannot shoulder as many innings as possible, the fatigued bullpen risks being overloaded once again. Long innings from Feddeks are more critical than ever at this moment.
However, the opposing starter is no pushover either. Unfortunately, Samsung will face Choi Min-seok, Doosan's 'top hit product of the first half.' Choi has recorded 9 wins and 2 losses with a 2.19 ERA in 17 games this season, making him one of the league's elite starting pitchers. He currently shares the league lead in wins alongside KIA Tigers' Oller and LG Twins' Im Chan-kyu. Additionally, with Jacklog and Kwak Bin's appearances in Suwon delayed, Choi has become available for the three-game series against Samsung this weekend.
This season, Doosan boasts a solid mound anchored by the league's best team ERA (3.84). Specifically, their starting pitcher ERA stands at 3.59, ranking first in the league, whereas Samsung's starting pitcher ERA is 4.31, placing fifth. While Samsung holds an edge in bullpen ERA (3.69, first) compared to Doosan (4.21, second), Samsung's fatigue from midweek battles makes it difficult for them to fully leverage this advantage.
Furthermore, Samsung's lineup struggled against Kiwoom at Gocheok, leaving nine runners stranded in two consecutive games, suggesting the upcoming matchup could hinge on a narrow margin within a tight pitching duel. However, Doosan also faces the challenge of quickly regaining their game sharpness after resting for two days.
First-place Samsung, whose stamina has waned from midweek grueling contests, will face fifth-place Doosan, which is riding a three-game winning streak after catching its breath over two days. Who will emerge victorious in this crucial early-season clash at Jamsil? Above all, the baseball world's attention is focused on Chris Feddeks, Samsung's ace, who must shoulder the responsibility of logging long innings.
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*This content was translated by AI.
