The replacement for '31SV Son Ju-young' was ultimately not found... "We will go with a collective closer." Manager Yeom Kyung-yeop's gamble [WC1 On-site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The LG Twins, whose bullpen was thrown into disarray from the very first game of their autumn baseball season, will enter the postseason with a collective closing strategy after failing to secure a definitive replacement.

The LG will play the first game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Postseason (PS) Wild Card Series (WC) against the Doosan Bears at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium at 6:30 p.m. on the 14th.

LG, which finished fourth in the regular season with a record of 78 wins, 1 draw, and 65 losses, has advanced to the postseason. In the Wild Card (WC) series against fifth-place Doosan (74 wins, 5 draws, and 65 losses), LG needs only one win or one draw to advance to the Junior Playoffs (Junior PO). Conversely, Doosan must secure two consecutive victories to move on to the next stage.

Despite the favorable conditions, LG's concerns run deep. Son Ju-young (28), who served as the team's closer this season, was excluded from the Wild Card roster due to a herniated disc in his cervical spine at levels C6-C7.

Son Ju-young took over the closer role this season after starting reliever Yoo Young-chan (27) was sidelined. He recorded one win, two losses, 31 saves, and a 3.22 ERA in 47 games, contributing to LG's postseason qualification. However, he suffered an injury just before the most critical fall baseball stretch.

Manager Yom met with reporters before the game and explained, "Son Ju-young has herniated discs in his cervical spine at C6 and C7. He received injection treatment, but the training staff indicated that it would be difficult for him to be designated as a wild card player at this time. We need to monitor the results of the treatment. Even if we advance to the junior playoffs, we must check his condition."

There is still no definitive closer identified to fill the void left by Son Ju-young. Go Woo-seok (28), who returned near the end of the regular season, is also ineligible for postseason play due to player registration deadline issues. With Kim Jin-sung (41) also sidelined by injury, LG must rely on its remaining bullpen resources, including John Kennedy (32), to close out games.

Manager Yeom's proposed solution is a collective closing strategy. He stated, "When save situations arise, we need to operate in the same way we did at the start of the season when Yoo Young-chan was not available," adding, "Considering various factors such as opposing batter data and batting order, it seems that the wild card should be managed under a collective closing system."

The plan is to utilize the bullpen based on the opposing lineup and game situation, rather than assigning a specific pitcher to pitch the ninth inning. In particular, LG has been under pressure in managing its bullpen as it engaged in a fierce race for playoff positioning that continued until the end of this season's regular campaign. In the postseason as well, how many innings the starting pitchers can cover has emerged as a key variable.

LG's starting pitcher on this day is Carlos Karasco (39). His opponent is Kwak Bin (27), who leads the league in ERA this season. Manager Yum stated, "The most important thing in today's game is how tightly Karasco and Kwak Bin can hold their own in the starting duel. That is the first point." He added, "As a manager, I hope Karasco can pitch at least five innings, but we will make decisions based on the situation."

In the regular season, LG held a significant advantage over Doosan with a head-to-head record of 11 wins, 1 draw, and 4 losses. Manager Yoon cited the team's ability to protect leads in the late innings as the key factor. "The most important thing is that we have become a team that plays defensive baseball," he said. "As our defensive play improved, we gained an even greater edge over Doosan." He added, "Our offense also delivered when it mattered, and with good balance between pitching and hitting, we achieved strong results."

Nevertheless, he did not place much significance on the head-to-head record in the regular season. Manager Yoon emphasized, “The atmosphere is different in the postseason. The flow that develops from day to day affects the game,” adding, “I always consider the postseason and the pennant race to be entirely separate matters.”

With Son Ju-young absent, the key question for LG is how well they can replicate the defensive-oriented baseball they displayed against Doosan during the regular season. Manager Yoon stated, "I would have preferred him to return a bit later, and there is some regret about that. However, that is the outcome we are facing now, and what matters from here on out is crucial." He added, "We must win the first Wild Card game in order for our players to advance further, so we will do our utmost to secure a victory today."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original