*This content was translated by AI.View Original
The five teams advancing to the 2026 KBO postseason have already been determined. The battle for third place, which will determine the landscape of the fall baseball season, is expected to continue until the final game of the regular season. KIA Tigers and LG Twins are locked in a razor-thin race with no games behind separating them for the direct ticket to the 준플레이오프 (Junior Playoffs). If third and fourth place are decided in the final game, this scheduling arrangement is poised to become a masterstroke for KBO's commercial success.
In this year's regular season, KT Wiz secured first place and a direct berth to the Korean Series. Following them, Samsung Lions locked in second place and an early spot in the Playoffs. Additionally, Doosan Bears are preparing for the Wild Card Decider from fifth place.
Now, only two teams remain: the third-place team that will advance directly to the 준플레이오프 (Junior Playoffs), and the fourth-place team that must start from the Wild Card Decider against Doosan.
The race is truly fierce. In fact, there is no games-behind gap between 3rd-place KIA and LG. KIA sits in third place with a record of 76 wins, 2 draws, and 62 losses (winning percentage 0.5507).
LG is ranked fourth with 77 wins, 1 draw, and 63 losses (winning percentage 0.550). KIA holds a slight advantage, leading by just one "ri" (0.0007) in winning percentage without any games-behind gap.
The difference between third and fourth place is significant. If they secure third place, they can take five days of ample rest until the 17th, when Game 1 of the 준플레이오프 (Junior Playoffs) opens against the winner of the Wild Card Decider. Moreover, facing a team that has expended much energy in the high-stakes Wild Card Decider is considered a major advantage.
Conversely, if they drop to fourth place, they must enter the Wild Card Decider against 5th-place Doosan from the 14th, with only one day of rest after completing the final day of the regular season (the 12th).
KIA has four games remaining until the end of the regular season, while LG has three.
After playing an away game against NC Dinos in Changwon on the 9th, KIA will move to Gwangju to face a home three-game series (SSG Landers on the 10th, Lotte Giants on the 11th, and LG Twins on the 12th). While the proportion of home games is high, the fact that they must play four consecutive games without a rest day is a variable.
In contrast, LG will play a two-game away series against Lotte at Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium on the 9th and 10th before moving to Gwangju. A key difference from KIA is that they can take a day of rest on the travel day, the 11th. However, as these are away games, fatigue from travel appears to be something they must endure.
Currently, the teams facing KIA and LG have already been eliminated from the fall baseball season, so it is true that their motivation may be lacking.
If KIA defeats NC, SSG, and Lotte, and LG also wins both games of its two-game series against Lotte, third place will ultimately be decided in the Gwangju showdown between LG and KIA on the 12th.
It can essentially be called a "preview of fall baseball" decisive game for direct advancement to the 준플레이오프 (Junior Playoffs). This season, KIA holds a slight edge over LG in head-to-head records with 8 wins and 7 losses.
KIA will challenge for a win against NC on the 9th, led by foreign ace James Neal. With native ace Gu Chang-mo starting for NC, the key will be how much KIA's batters can exploit him.
LG also named foreign ace Carlos Karasco as its starter for the 9th. Lotte's starting pitcher is 20-year-old rookie Kim Han-gyeol.
For both LG and KIA, the best scenario is to win their respective games before the 12th showdown and then approach the final regular season game. Which team will ultimately secure third place and advance directly to the 준플레이오프 (Junior Playoffs) this season?
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*This content was translated by AI.View Original
