Lee Beom-ho, manager of the KIA Tigers, who led his team to a playoff berth with a perfect 3-0 record, shared his thoughts on their next opponent, the Samsung Lions.
KIA secured its spot in the playoffs by defeating the LG Twins 13-1 in the third game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO postseason semifinals on October 20 at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul.
After the game, Lee told reporters, "Our pitchers performed well, both starters and relievers, and the hitters capitalized on their opportunities to break down the opposing mound. I expected the series to go to four or five games, so I was surprised we achieved a three-game sweep. The four days of rest we gained thanks to the players' high concentration will be a significant advantage for us."
Regarding Kim Do-young, Lee said, "He has the kind of presence that suggests he will hit when runners are on base. His home run was made possible by teammates like Park Jae-hyun, who connected against Kennedy in earlier at-bats to create scoring chances. While one player alone might only score one run, our team's culture of getting on base seems to lead to big scoring opportunities."
On starting pitcher Shirakawa, Lee commented, "I was prepared to replace him if he faltered, but he pitched flawlessly."
As for Samsung, Lee noted, "They are a strong team with excellent starting pitchers and offensive power, and their home fans in Daegu are known for their passionate support. Our players need to play with joy and excitement, even more than in the semifinals, to tap into their full potential. We will approach them aggressively and with confidence."
He added, "For the first two games of the playoffs, it makes sense to start James Naile and Adam Oller. I decided to use Shirakawa in the third game to accommodate Yang Hyun-jong, who has faced some difficulties at Daegu. Yang is scheduled to pitch in the third and fourth games in Gwangju."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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