'Shock, a bolt from the blue': Another injury hits LG as they ultimately "send him to Seoul" → A 'massive variable' emerges ahead of the decisive showdown with KIA [Gwangju on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The LG Twins have announced their starting lineup for the final regular season game against the KIA Tigers, a match of destiny. However, a significant variable has emerged: closer Son Ju-young has been sidelined due to injury.

LG will play its final 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season game against KIA at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field at 6:30 p.m. on the 12th.

LG is currently ranked fourth in the league with a record of 78 wins, 74 losses, and 1 tie this season. KIA is ranked third with 78 wins, 63 losses, and 2 ties. The gap between KIA and LG is 0.5 games. The team that wins on this day will secure the direct ticket to the Junior Playoffs as the third-place finisher. However, since LG trails by 0.5 games, they must win outright; a tie is not sufficient.

On this day, LG arranged its starting batting order as follows: Park Hae-min (center fielder), Song Chan-ui (left fielder), Austin (designated hitter), Moon Jeong-bin (first baseman), Moon Bo-kyung (third baseman), Lee Jae-won (right fielder), Koo Bon-hyeok (shortstop), Park Dong-won (catcher), and Shin Min-jae (second baseman). LG's starting pitcher is Im Chan-gyu.

Im Chan-gyu is currently tied for first place in the wins category this season with KT Wiz's Go Yeong-pyo. He has a record of 15 wins and 7 losses, with an ERA of 4.44. Over a total of 166⅓ innings, he allowed 183 hits (12 home runs), issued 41 walks, struck out 100 batters, and gave up 84 runs (82 earned). His WHIP is 1.35, and the batting average against him is 0.282. He has recorded 13 quality starts. Against KIA this season, he appeared in one game, pitching 5⅓ innings while allowing 7 hits (1 home run), striking out 2 batters, and giving up 4 runs (4 earned), resulting in an ERA of 6.75 and a loss without a win.

Like KIA's starter Yang Hyeon-jong, Im Chan-gyu's most recent appearance was on the 7th. In that home game at Jamsil, Im pitched against Doosan for 5 innings, allowing 6 hits, issuing 1 walk and 1 hit batter, striking out 4 batters, and giving up 5 runs (5 earned) to secure a win. If Im becomes the winning pitcher in today's game against KIA, he will claim the sole title of wins champion.

Before the game, manager Yeom Kyung-yeop of LG briefly but firmly stated his resolve: "We must win no matter what."

However, a variable has emerged: Son Ju-young, who had served as the team's undisputed closer this season, will not be able to play due to injury.

Manager Yeom said, "(Son) Ju-young told me he got hit in the neck yesterday. He said his neck wouldn't turn, so I thought it would be better for him to get treatment quickly, and we sent him up to Seoul."

Son Ju-young appeared in 47 games this season, recording a record of 1 win, 2 losses, and 31 saves with an ERA of 3.22, guarding LG's back end. He took over the closer role after the original LG closer, Yoo Yeong-chan, was sidelined for surgery. This year, Son pitched a total of 50⅓ innings, allowing 46 hits (2 home runs), issuing 32 walks, striking out 50 batters, and giving up 18 runs (18 earned). He had 5 blown saves, with a WHIP of 1.55 and a batting average against of 0.246.

With Son Ju-young's absence, the utilization of Ko Woo-seok, who is unable to play in the postseason, has become even more critical on this day. Manager Yeom emphasized, "Son Ju-young complained of pain after waking up this morning. Injuries come without warning." He added, "We will deploy (Ko) Woo-seok depending on the situation. We will watch the game's flow to decide whether to use him earlier or later in the lineup."

He further explained, "He can be considered our strongest card among those we currently have. Yesterday, the performance analysis team and coaching staff gathered together and discussed this issue since (Son) Ju-young is unavailable, making the decision collectively."

For now, with Son Ju-young unable to play in today's game against KIA, the best scenario for LG would be for Son to return to full strength for the postseason.

Regarding how to attack opposing starter Yang Hyeon-jong, Manager Yeom expressed confidence, saying, "I believe our batters can handle Yang Hyeon-jong's pitching to a certain extent."

Meanwhile, facing LG, KIA arranged its starting batting order as follows: Park Jeong-woo (right fielder), Park Jae-hyun (left fielder), Kim Do-young (third baseman), Castro (first baseman), Na Seung-beom (designated hitter), Kim Sun-bin (second baseman), Ha Ju-seok (shortstop), Kim Tae-goon (catcher), and Kim Ho-ryeong (center fielder).

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original