Why are the LG Twins determined to beat the Kia Tigers in the KBO postseason?

LG lost seven consecutive regular-season games to Kia, including several crucial late-season contests and the final game that determined the Twins’ fourth-place finish. Youm Kyoung-youb said those defeats forced the team to examine what went wrong and could help it in the postseason.

How can the LG Twins stop Kia Tigers slugger Kim Do-yeong?

Youm said LG cannot allow runners to reach base ahead of Kim Do-yeong, who led the regular season with 45 home runs. He added that the Twins’ advance scouts had prepared for the slugger.

Which injured LG Twins players are available for the postseason series against Kia?

Shortstop Oh Ji-hwan returned after recovering from a left knee injury and was expected to have no problem hitting or fielding. Closer Son Ju-young was also on the roster after a herniated neck disk, but LG planned to test him in middle relief before restoring him to the closer role if he responded well.

Twins manager says team due for win over rival in postseason

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Summary

The LG Twins face the Kia Tigers in a best-of-five KBO postseason first round starting Saturday at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju. Manager Youm Kyoung-youb said the Twins are determined to respond after losing seven straight regular-season games to Kia. He identified Tigers slugger Kim Do-yeong as a key threat and said Oh Ji-hwan and Son Ju-young could strengthen the injury-hit lineup and bullpen.

Key Facts

Kim Do-yeong led the regular season with 45 home runs and ranked among the KBO leaders in other major offensive categories.
The Kia Tigers secured the third seed and a bye to the first round, while the LG Twins finished fourth and advanced by defeating the Doosan Bears in Wednesday’s wild card game.
The Twins lost to the Tigers on the final day of the regular season Monday in Gwangju, which confirmed their fourth-place finish.
Veteran shortstop Oh Ji-hwan returned after missing games since Oct. 5 with a left knee injury.
Closer Son Ju-young was placed on the postseason roster after missing the wild card game with a herniated neck disk and is expected to first appear in a middle-relief role.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 17, 2026 1:17 pm KST
Updated Oct 17, 2026 1:18 pm KST

LG Twins manager Youm Kyoung-youb speaks to reporters before Game 1 of the first round in the Korea Baseball Organization postseason against the Kia Tigers at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in the southwestern city of Gwangju, Saturday. Yonhap

GWANGJU — With his LG Twins having dropped seven straight games against the Kia Tigers in the regular season, manager Youm Kyoung-youb said Saturday they are determined to punch right back in the postseason.

The Twins and the Tigers are facing off in the best-of-five first round in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason, starting Saturday at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in the southwestern city of Gwangju.

The Tigers held off the Twins to grab the third seed and earn a bye to this round, while the Twins ended up in fourth place and had to beat the Doosan Bears in the wild card game Wednesday. Losing to the Tigers on the final day of the regular season Monday here in Gwangju sealed the Twins' fate.

"We kept losing to Kia in some crucial games late in the season and it forced us to look at ourselves in the mirror and figure out what went wrong," Youm said in his pregame media availability. "I think it will help us in this postseason round."

Youm predicted that stopping Tigers slugger Kim Do-yeong from doing much damage will go a long way toward helping the Twins. Kim led the regular season with 45 home runs and ranked among the KBO leaders in other major offensive categories.

"We cannot afford to put base runners in front of Do-yeong," Youm said. "Our advance scouts have done their work."

The injury-plagued lineup welcomed back veteran shortstop Oh Ji-hwan, who had been out since Oct. 5 with a left knee injury.

"He has recovered well and he should have no problem hitting and fielding," Youm said. "We did our final check on him yesterday."

Another injured player, closer Son Ju-young, is on the roster, after missing the wild card game due to a herniated neck disk.

"We will test him in a middle relief role first and if all goes well, we will put him back in the closer spot," Youm said of his left-hander.

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