LG will play three consecutive games against second-place KT Wiz at Suwon KT Wiz Park from the 5th to the 7th.
Depending on the results of the three consecutive games, LG can solidify its top spot or provide an excuse for a chase.
LG and KT are 5.5 games apart as of the 4th.
If LG wins more than two winning series, it will surpass the seventh-division ridge of the regular-season championship, but if it gives up all three games, the gap between the two teams will be reduced to 2.5 games, falling into the fog.
The atmosphere of both teams is not very good these days. LG is losing two consecutive games and KT is losing three consecutive games.
LG was caught by the lowest-ranked Hanwha Eagles for two consecutive days, shaken by ace Adam Plutko’s injury.
KT also suffered a sweeping defeat to the ninth-ranked Kiwoom Heroes due to its sluggish team lineup.
Meanwhile, LG and KT seem to be “all-in” in Suwon’s three consecutive games.
KT plans to put all three key starters, William Cuevas, Wes Benjamin, and Ko Young-pyo.
On top of that, leading hitter Kang Baek-ho, who was excluded from the lineup due to mental problems, and veteran infielder Kim Sang-soo, who was eliminated due to an ankle sprain, will join.
For LG, Casey Kelly and Choi Won-tae are expected to play against KT.
After three consecutive games against LG, KT will have to compete against the third-place SSG Landers.
KT and SSG may change their rankings through this week’s game by only two games.
However, SSG has recently slowed down to four consecutive losses amid a severe slump in pitching and hitting.
SSG made a big change to its coaches on the 3rd to prevent the decline, but it did not have any effect right now.
Rather, the momentum of the fourth-place KIA Tigers is scary.
KIA has recently won eight consecutive games with a fire bat to secure fourth place. The gap between KIA and SSG is only 1.5 games.
KIA will bring LG home after three consecutive games against Doosan in Jamsil.
KIA recorded a team batting average of 0.337 during its eight-game winning streak, and the team OPS (long-hitting rate + on-base rate) reached 0.918 as much as possible. Expectations are high on how long KIA’s rise will continue.
There is a doubleheader variable in professional baseball this week.
The LG-KIA match (Gwangju), the Samsung Lions-Doosan match (Jamsil), the Lotte Giants-NC Dinos match (Changwon), and the Hanwha Eagles-Kium Heroes match (Gocheok) will be held in two consecutive games on the 9th.
Teams that suffer from physical ups and downs through the heat have to play with considerable burden.
Doosan, which fell to sixth place, and Lotte, ranked seventh, are all the more burdensome as they have been playing nine consecutive games, including a showdown in Busan on Monday, the 4th.
The fight for the last place is also worth watching. Kiwoom, ranked ninth with four consecutive wins, and Hanwha, the lowest with two consecutive wins, will face off from the 8th to the 10th.