“Championship within reach”: Samsung, Will they even deploy Chris Fedde? Manager Park Jin-man leaves no one out! “If we win at home, it will truly be a festival atmosphere”

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The Samsung Lions, leveraging a perfect harmony between pitching and batting, have crossed the nine-tenths mark toward reaching the pinnacle of the Korea Series for the first time in 12 years. With only one victory remaining to claim the championship trophy, Samsung Manager Park Jin-man (50) previewed an all-out effort for Game 5, leaving a strong impression regarding the possibility of deploying foreign starting pitcher Chris Fedde as a relief pitcher.

Samsung defeated KT 10-5 in Game 4 of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Postseason Korea Series (best-of-seven) held on the 7th at Daegu Samsung Lions Park. With this victory, Samsung has run up an unbeaten streak of three consecutive wins following their loss in Game 1, taking a 3-1 lead in the series.

At the same time, Samsung is just one win away from winning the Korea Series for the first time since 2014, a span of 12 years. Their probability of winning the championship has also risen to 94.7%. In the history of the Korea Series, there have been 43 instances where the series reached the end of Game 4 with one team leading 3-1. Of these 19 cases, the team leading 3-1 ultimately won the championship in 18 instances.

On this day, Samsung’s lineup produced a large number of runs starting from the first inning, firmly seizing the early momentum. Starting pitcher Jang Chan-hee pitched four innings solidly, allowing only one run, thereby reducing the burden on the bullpen. In the crucial mid-game moments, right-hander Lee Jae-hee perfectly handled multiple innings, crushing the opponent’s pursuit. On the offensive side, “Autumn Madman” Park Seung-gyu performed brilliantly in hitting, fielding, and baserunning, lifting the dugout atmosphere.

After the game, Manager Park Jin-man stated, “We scored from the first inning, which allowed us to seize the early momentum. Starter Jang Chan-hee pitched four innings exceptionally well. In a crisis situation where the flow could have shifted, Lee Jae-hee decisively stopped it, protecting the mid-to-late game battle. My MVP in my heart today is Lee Jae-hee,” highly praising the pitching staff’s dedication. Regarding the timing of the quick pitcher change in the fourth inning, he noted, “The difference in the ratio of balls to strikes began to appear, and his pitch count reached 60, so I judged it was better to take him out while he was at his best.”

Despite holding an overwhelming probability of winning, Manager Park thoroughly guarded against complacency. Manager Park Jin-man said, “We have crossed the nine-tenths mark with today’s game, but in the postseason, the atmosphere can shift with just one game. We will prepare with the determination to end it immediately tomorrow without any slack. If we think we are going to win, we will throw out every pitcher we have available,” effectively declaring a total mobilization order.

Reporters’ interest naturally focused on the pitching rotation for Game 5. When asked whether foreign ace Fedde could also be held in reserve as a reliever following starting pitcher Won Tae-in in Game 5, Manager Park did not deny it and wore his characteristic enigmatic smile.

Manager Park said, “I will go back to the Navy Headquarters for a meeting and tell you before tomorrow’s (the 8th) game. Not after the game ends, but I will reveal it before tomorrow’s game,” withholding a definitive answer while leaving open the possibility of an all-or-nothing strategy.

Nevertheless, Manager Park Jin-man did not hide his desire to win in front of their home crowd. He smiled and said, “There will be a difference after the game ends. The cheers and such are different. Our team is physically a bit tired, but in this kind of roar, they might be able to focus a little more. (If we win at home) both the players and the fans will be in an atmosphere where they can truly enjoy a festival.”

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original