“Loss, loss, loss, loss, loss” — What is happening to defending champion LG? Even 3rd place is no longer safe… 5th-place Doosan has closed the gap to just 4 games in a fierce pursuit

*This content was translated by AI.

Defending champion LG Twins have fallen into an unexpected losing streak at the end of the season. Just one week ago, they appeared to be solidifying their 3rd-place standing with a seven-game winning streak, but now they must keep a close eye on not only 4th-place KIA Tigers but also the movements of 5th-place Doosan Bears.

On the 1st, LG lost 5-6 in an away regular-season game against SSG Landers at IncheonSSG Landers Field in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

LG, who had once trailed by as much as 0-6, closed the gap to a one-run deficit in the late innings, powered by Lee Jae-won’s three-run home run and Oh Ji-hwan’s solo shot. However, they ultimately failed to produce the final run needed to tie or take the lead. LG, who dropped all three games of their season-ending three-game series in Incheon, fell into a five-game losing streak. It had been 1,957 days since the 21st–23, 2021, that they had suffered a sweep loss to SSG in a three-game series.

The standings are also closing rapidly. LG maintained their 3rd-place position with a record of 75 wins, 1 draw, and 60 losses. Fortunately, on the same day, 4th-place KIA lost 5-7 to KT Wiz, remaining at 72 wins, 2 draws, and 61 losses, keeping the gap between the two teams at two games.

The problem lies below them. 5th-place Doosan defeated NC Dinos 9-7, extending their winning streak to three games and recording a record of 70 wins, 5 draws, and 63 losses. The gap between LG and Doosan has narrowed to just four games without anyone noticing.

Looking only at September as a whole, LG did not appear to be in a position to be pushed back so hard. After finishing August with a record of 64 wins, 1 draw, and 51 losses, LG held on in September with 11 wins and 8 losses. During the same period, KIA had 9 wins and 10 losses, while Doosan had 8 wins, 1 draw, and 11 losses. In fact, among the three teams, LG had the best record.

In particular, until the 24th of last month, LG seemed to be firmly holding onto 3rd place while on a seven-game winning streak. However, everything began to unravel when they failed to hold a 4-0 lead against Lotte Giants and suffered a 4-6 comeback loss. On September 26 in Gwangju, they lost 1-5 to KIA, who were aiming for the 3rd-place spot, and on the 27th, a game in which they led 2-0 was called a no-game due to heavy rain, preventing them from breaking their losing momentum.

The subsequent away trip to Incheon proved to be the decisive blow. On September 29, they failed to effectively attack Pedro Avila and lost 1-7. September 30 was even more painful. They led 3-0 through the top of the 9th inning but could not survive the final inning. Closer Son Ju-young gave up four runs in the 9th inning alone, resulting in a 3-4 walk-off loss. It was the first time this season that Son Ju-young allowed four runs in a single game.

The opposite scenario unfolded in the final game. This time, they chased from 0-6 to within one run at 5-6, but again failed to cross the final hurdle. The five-game losing streak had varied characteristics. There were days when the lineup fell silent, and games where they held a lead but the bullpen failed to protect it. In the last game, the lineup finally woke up late in the game, but they could not erase the score gap that had opened early on.

Fortunately, because KIA also stumbled, 3rd place remains LG’s position. KIA also fell into a three-game losing streak after dropping all three games in their series against KT starting from the 29th of last month. Following an extra-inning game on the 29th and a one-run loss on the 30th, they allowed Kim Hyun-soo to hit a decisive two-run home run while tied 5-5 on the 1st. This is why LG has maintained a two-game lead over KIA despite losing five consecutive games.

While LG has failed to add a win in five consecutive games, Doosan has done the opposite, winning three straight. By beating NC in all three games starting from September 29, they reached the milestone of 70 wins. They are also 6-1-3 in their last 10 games. The gap with 5th place, which LG had been looking down on, has now shrunk to just four games.

The number of remaining games is also a variable. In the 144th-game schedule, LG has 8 games left, KIA has 9, and Doosan has 6. While LG still leads in terms of remaining games, if the current losing streak continues, it cannot be completely ruled out that they could fall to 4th place or even 5th place.

It is not simply a matter of moving up or down one or two spots on the standings. The starting line for the postseason differs between 3rd place and 4th/5th place. If LG holds onto 3rd place, they can begin the postseason from the Junior Playoffs, but if they drop just one step, they must start from the Wild Card Series.

Just one week ago, LG was smiling with a seven-game winning streak, but now they are sitting on a five-game losing streak. Depending on how quickly they can turn the atmosphere around in their remaining 8 regular-season games, the starting point for the defending champion’s postseason could change.

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*This content was translated by AI.