Playoffs Game 1 Starting Pitchers Revealed! FedEx vs. Neale Matchup Confirmed for BIGBANG → Hurado vs. Oler Likely for Game 2

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The curtain rises on the Playoffs (PO · best-of-five series), the autumn gateway to the Korea Series ticket, with Game 1 on the 25th. The Samsung Lions and KIA Tigers have declared a decisive battle by announcing Chris FedEx (30) and James Neale (33) as their respective starting pitchers for Game 1. It is also highly likely that Ariel Hurdado (30 · Samsung) and Adam Oler (32 · KIA) will take the mound in Game 2, compressing the early part of the series into a head-on collision between both teams' foreign one-two punch.

According to the official KBO League website, FedEx and Neale are announced as the starting pitchers for the 2026 KBO Playoffs Game 1, which will be held at Daegu Samsung Lions Park at 2 p.m. on the 25th.

FedEx, who was acquired by Samsung during the season, is a veteran with a career record of 32 wins and 43 losses in 132 games (119 starts) in Major League Baseball, with an ERA of 4.83. Since his KBO League debut, he has appeared in 13 regular season games, recording 7 wins and 3 losses with an ERA of 2.95, serving as a solid pillar for Samsung's starting rotation.

However, his memory against KIA in the regular season is painful. He struggled with 2 losses and an ERA of 5.25 in two appearances. In particular, he surrendered 6 RBIs to catcher Kim Tae-gyun through home runs and double hits, among others. While he limited star batter Kim Do-young to 1 hit in 6 at-bats, that sole hit was a home run allowed. His batting average against was low at 0.220, but he still gave up 9 runs (7 earned).

FedEx, who will take the mound in live action (excluding practice games) for the first time in 16 days since his relief appearance in the final regular season game against SSG Landers on the 9th, faces the key to victory in how he adjusts his live-action feel and controls the power of the bottom and middle lineups early in the game.

KIA's Neale is a top-tier pitcher in the league who led the team to a unified championship in 2024. This season, he also secured 13 wins (7 losses), achieving 33 career KBO wins, and showcased his steel shoulders by handling the league-high 183 innings, taking responsibility for an average of over 165 innings per season for three consecutive years.

Neale's momentum in fall baseball is also fierce. He pitched a strong game of 7 innings and 1 run allowed in Game 1 of the Junior Playoffs against LG, laying the foundation for victory. He also showed strength against Samsung in the regular season with 2 wins and no losses in 4 games, and an ERA of 3.24.

The pressure on Game 2 will vary depending on the result of Game 1. In Game 2, to be held on the 26th, Oler and Hurdado are very likely to engage in a starting pitcher matchup. Both teams have provided sufficient rest to their one-two punch through the Junior Playoffs and the end of the regular season. Depending on what sparks the high-quality pitching duel between FedEx and Neale in Game 1 leaves behind, the calculations for the Game 2 starting mound and bullpen usage are expected to change significantly. The mound at Raefak, announcing the prelude to the fall feast, is heating up intensely.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original