KIA makes a sudden batting order change! "Hit well against Samsung's Choi Won-tae" — the reason for moving the No. 9 hitter up to No. 2, and even replacing the catcher: 'Starting lineup announced' [Gwangju on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The KIA Tigers have revealed their starting lineup for Game 3 of the decisive Playoffs (best-of-five series) against the Samsung Lions.

KIA will face Samsung in Game 3 of the 2026 Shinhan KBO Postseason Playoffs at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field at 6:30 p.m. on the 29th.

The two teams split the first two games, played at Daegu Samsung Lions Park, with one win each. Entering this Game 3 tied at 1-1, KIA was the first to announce its starting roster.

KIA's starting lineup consists of Park Jae-hyun (left fielder), Kim Ho-ryeong (center fielder), Kim Do-young (third baseman), Harold Castro (first baseman), Na Seung-beom (right fielder), Kim Sun-bin (designated hitter), Kim Gyu-seong (second baseman), Kim Tae-goon (catcher), and Ha Ju-seok (shortstop).

KIA's starting pitcher is Shirakawa. Samsung's starting pitcher is Choi Won-tae.

Ahead of the game, KIA manager Lee Beom-ho explained, "(Kim) Ho-ryeong hit well against the opposing starter (Choi Won-tae). I deliberated between placing Kim Sun-bin as the designated hitter and deciding on the No. 2 and No. 6 spots. I placed fast players in the top three spots of the batting order."

In Game 2 of the Playoffs on the 27th, KIA arranged its lineup with Park Jae-hyun (left fielder), Lee Ho-yeon (designated hitter), Kim Do-young (third baseman), Harold Castro (first baseman), Na Seung-beom (right fielder), Kim Sun-bin (second baseman), Han Jun-su (catcher), Ha Ju-seok (shortstop), and Kim Ho-ryeong (center fielder).

Compared to the Game 2 starting lineup, Kim Ho-ryeong was placed in the No. 2 spot instead of Lee Ho-yeon. The cleanup trio consisting of Kim Do-young, Castro, and Na Seung-beom remains unchanged. The starting catcher also changed from Kim Tae-goon to Han Jun-su. It is also notable that Kim Ho-ryeong was moved down from the No. 2 spot to the No. 9 spot in the previous game.

Shirakawa appeared in 18 games this season, recording a 4-5 record with an ERA of 4.75. Over 83⅓ innings, he allowed 70 hits (9 home runs), issued 45 walks, struck out 69 batters, and gave up 45 runs (44 earned). His WHIP was 1.38, and the opposing batting average against him was 0.226. He achieved two quality starts (at least six innings with three or fewer earned runs allowed). Against Samsung this season, he posted a 1-1 record in three games with an ERA of 3.68, allowing 10 hits (1 home run), issuing 11 walks, striking out 10 batters, and giving up 6 runs (6 earned) over 14⅔ innings, with an opposing batting average against him of 0.196.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original