'Are you checking Samsung's results?' Lee Kang-cheol gives an honest answer: "I keep an eye on them throughout the game."

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Kang-cheol (60), manager of the KT Wiz who leads the standings by a margin of 1.5 games, kept his eyes on the scoreboards of rival teams even during matches. He honestly revealed that he checks live game updates for third-place LG Twins and other chasing teams like second-place Samsung Lions.

As of the day before the match on the 15th, KT leads by a margin of 1.5 games over second-place Samsung. The situation remains precarious, as standings could tighten or widen depending on single-game results.

Meeting reporters in the dugout before the home game against Kiwoom Heroes at Suwon KT Wiz Park, manager Lee Kang-cheol responded to StarNews' question about whether he checks the results of lower-ranked teams like Samsung and LG after games with his characteristic cheerful yet candid tone: "I don't just check after the game ends; I monitor them throughout."

The manager added, "After the third inning ends, after the fifth inning ends, or during the newly introduced heatwave cleaning breaks, what else would I do but sit quietly? I watch the scoreboard or broadcast screen. Scores are updated in real time. In Major League Baseball, scores from other stadiums appear prominently, and here too, a few games are continuously displayed, so my eyes naturally drift there."

In the fierce battle to maintain first place, even the manager must remain alert to conditions at other venues. Reflecting on the previous day's comeback victory, Lee expressed relief that the bench's decisions—such as pitcher usage and tactical plays—aligned well. Notably, KT Wiz will lose key pitchers including So Hyoung-jun, Oh Won-seok, and Park Young-hyun due to their mid-September Asian Games call-ups. Most importantly, winning as many games as possible before the national team selections is critical. The manager acknowledged this point with a simple remark: "What's there to say?"

Meanwhile, KT set its starting lineup against Kiwoom starter Ha Young-min as follows: Choi Won-jun (right fielder), Kim Hyun-soo (first baseman), Ahn Hyeon-min (designated hitter), Hilliard (center fielder), Heo Kyung-min (third baseman), Kim Sang-su (second baseman), Jang Jin-hyeok (left fielder), Han Seung-taek (catcher), and Jang Jun-won (shortstop). The starting pitcher was left-handed Oh Won-seok.

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*This content was translated by AI.