"The rain shows no sign of stopping" — Daegu's Samsung Lions Park soaked overnight; Will Game 1 of the Samsung-KIA series be called off due to rain? [Daegu on-site report]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

It is an emergency. The sky above Daegu, where Game 1 of the Playoffs (PO) will take place, has opened up. While the total amount of rainfall is not excessive, the problem is that it rained all night and shows no sign of stopping.

Samsung Lions and KIA Tigers are scheduled to play Game 1 of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Postseason Playoffs (best-of-five series) at Daegu Samsung Lions Park starting at 2 p.m. on the 25th.

Samsung has had more than ten days of sufficient rest since the end of the regular season, while KIA will take the field after only four days of rest amid an extremely heated atmosphere. Both teams are burning with a determination to win.

The issue is the weather conditions. Rain that poured down from the previous day continues even now, at a time when the home team's players should be heading out for training.

Initially, the Korea Meteorological Administration forecast rain of about 1 mm per hour in the vicinity of Daegu Samsung Lions Park, but the perceived rainfall is heavier. There is also the variable that weather conditions could change unpredictably due to the influence of Typhoon Champi.

Although a tarp has already been installed on the ground at Samsung Lions Park, heavy rain fell overnight, and the weather has become quite chilly as a result. Therefore, even if the game begins, there may be concerns about injuries. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the rain forecast is expected to continue until around 6 p.m.

Even if the rain stops, normal commencement of the game could become difficult depending on when it clears. The tarp can only be removed and ground maintenance begun after the rain has completely stopped, requiring approximately one hour for maintenance from that point. Currently, Samsung players are conducting training with outdoor activities reduced due to the rain.

The KBO previously announced detailed rules for handling rainy weather on the 17th. If rain continues until just before the game starts, a minimum of 30 minutes must be waited according to baseball rules before declaring the resumption of play or suspending the game. If conditions remain uncertain and additional waiting is required, the point 50 minutes after suspension will serve as the final decision point.

The final judgment is made considering the time required for maintenance and future weather forecasts. If the game is suspended two or more times, the suspension times are aggregated.

The simplest scenario is that all situations are resolved before the game begins. This is because no-game and rainout rules do not apply in the postseason. If the game starts but is then suspended due to rain, and it is judged that play cannot continue, it will not result in a no-game or rainout; instead, it will proceed as a suspended game, resuming from the point of interruption on a future date.

In this case, the schedule would be delayed by one day at a time. However, if including rest days, the delay does not affect the start of Game 1 of the Korea Series on November 2, the schedule will proceed as is without further postponement.

Samsung, the second-place team, has announced Chris Fiddick as the starting pitcher for Game 1. Samsung, which recorded a 7-3 record with an ERA of 2.95 in 13 games this season, struggled against KIA with a 0-2 record and an ERA of 5.25 in two games. However, Samsung judged Fiddick to be their most powerful pitcher and decided to start him.

KIA, the fourth-place team leading the head-to-head record with 9 wins and 7 losses, will send James Neale to the mound as the starter. Neale, who posted a 13-7 record with an ERA of 3.49 in 31 games this season, recorded a 2-0 record with an ERA of 3.24 in four games against Samsung. In Game 1 of the semi-playoffs against LG Twins, he secured a win by pitching seven innings, allowing four hits (one home run), two walks, striking out six batters, and giving up one run.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original