4 clubs fight for final playoff berth
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Lotte Giants pitcher Kang Young-sik, right, and catcher Kang Min-ho react after their team’s 4-3 win against the Samsung Lions at Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium on Sept. 10. / Yonhap
By Baek Byung-yeul
While it appears certain that the top four clubs in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) will make it into the postseason to battle for the Korean Series championship title, four middle-ranked teams ― the Lotte Giants, Kia Tigers, Hanwha Eagles and SK Wyverns ― are fighting for the fifth and final playoff berth.
Last season in the KBO step-ladder postseason system, the top four of the nine clubs were the only teams who made it into the playoffs. But with an additional club ― the KT Wiz ― in the league starting this year, the league has added a two-game wildcard round in which the fourth and fifth-place teams will play.
With each team having 14 to 17 games left to play, no one can be sure which team will fill the last spot, as there is only a two-game difference from the fifth-place Giants (62 wins, 1 draw and 67 losses) to the eighth-place Wyverns (58-2-67).
At this stage, the Giants and Tigers seem to be the strongest contenders for fifth-place.
Both clubs boast serviceable bullpens compared to the seventh-place Eagles (61-0-69) and the Wyverns.
The Busan-based Giants, who have struggled this season with their weak bullpen, seem to have steadied themselves thanks to the return of their veteran relief pitchers Chong Tae-hyon and Kang Young-sik from injuries.
The 36-year-old submariner Chong, who has recorded 103 saves and 110 holds with an ERA of 2.11 in 619 games during his career, joined the team in late July after recuperating from an elbow injury. He has appeared on the mound in 15 games and recorded two wins, one loss, three saves and one hold, with an ERA of 2.93.
Left-handed reliever Kang, who also struggled earlier this season due to the elbow surgery he had last winter, has had better performance in the latter half of the season. The 34-year-old, who had recorded ERA’s of 14.73 and 6.75 in May and June, only allowed one run this month while throwing in five games.
As the Giants manager Lee Jong-un called them “key pitchers,” the Giants bullpen has recorded an ERA of 2.81 in 12 games this month, which is second-best in the league.
The Giants will have a three-game series with fourth-place Doosan Bears (69-0-57) in Seoul from Tuesday to Thursday. After having a game against the Wyverns on Friday in Busan, the Giants will clash against the mighty Samsung Lions on Sunday in Busan, who lead the league with 79 wins and 50 losses.
The Gwangju-based Tigers, also have benefited from a strong bullpen, garnered two wins, six holds and three saves this month with the league’s best ERA of 1.91.
Except for one game against the last-place Wiz on Thursday, the Tigers will have a series of decisive games this week as they will play against the Eagles on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then have another three-game series with the Wyverns in Incheon from Saturday-Monday.