The LG Twins open a best-of-five semi-playoff against the Kia Tigers in Gwangju on Saturday after beating the Doosan Bears 4-1 in a wild-card game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, a venue scheduled for demolition after this season.
How LG got here
Austin Dean's two-run homer off Gwak Been in the first inning and Carlos Carrasco's six-inning start carried LG on October 14. The Twins added insurance runs in the eighth, including a squeeze bunt by Shin Min-jae that also left him with a hamstring strain.
Outfielder Park Hae-min told reporters the club wants to return to Jamsil for another series, not a farewell loss. LG earned two off days before facing Kia, which hosted the third seed throughout the regular season.
Samsung waits, Koo progresses
Second-seeded Samsung Lions, who eliminated Kia in an earlier round, watch this series from Daegu while captain Koo Ja-wook resumed tee work Thursday after a hamstring injury sidelined him since September 30. The Lions expect Koo to serve at least as designated hitter when their playoff begins October 25.
For Kia, the semi-playoff is a chance to rebound after a quarterfinal exit; for LG, it is the last competitive chapter at Jamsil before the city moves postseason baseball to a new ballpark plan. Game 1 starts at 2 p.m. Saturday in Gwangju.
Pitching matchups
Kia finished third in the regular season and will host Games 1 and 2 in Gwangju, where crowd noise historically favors the Tigers. LG's Carrasco provides postseason experience, but Kia's rotation depth improved late in the year.
Shin Min-jae's injury tests LG manager Yeom Kyung-yup's bench — speed on the bases was a weapon all summer. If Shin sits, LG may rely more on contact hitting and Park Hae-min's defense in center.
Broader postseason map
KT Wiz await the Korean Series after winning the pennant, while Samsung rests until October 25. The winner of LG-Kia faces Samsung in a best-of-five playoff before the November 2 Series opener in Suwon.
Jamsil's demolition after 2026 makes this postseason emotionally charged for Seoul fans; LG players have spoken about wanting one more home stand before the iconic stadium closes.