'Preview of the Korean Series' ... Can KT Hold the Lead in the Lion's Den?

On the 29th, a showdown between first-place KT and second-place Samsung—dubbed a 'preview of the Korean Series'—will be held at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, with just 0.5 games separating them.

KT is maintaining first place with a record of 66 wins, 3 draws, and 42 losses for a winning percentage of .611. Samsung is closely chasing at 67 wins, 3 draws, and 44 losses with a .604 percentage. Since the results of today's game could change the lead, the attention of Suwon fans has also turned toward Daegu.

The matchup between the two teams was originally scheduled to start on the 28th. However, with rain falling all day in Daegu and poor ground conditions, the 12th game of the season was cancelled, pushing back the leadership competition by a day.

The Day Gained by Rain Cancellation: Advantage or Disadvantage for KT?

The rain cancellation was initially welcome news for KT, which had been dealing with a roster gap.

While Samsung was on a four-game winning streak and their batting lineup was hot—scoring double digits over two consecutive days against Kiwoom's mound—KT has been without key slugger Hilliard, who is on paternity leave after recording 30 home runs and 99 RBIs. Starting catcher Jang Sung-woo has also been sidelined by injury.

The bullpen and fielders gaining an extra day to recover is a positive. However, with an extended road trip stay, training, meal, and sleep schedules must be readjusted. Whether the rest translates to physical recovery or a decline in game feel and intensity will be the first point to watch.

The rain cancellation also shifted the weight of the starting pitcher matchup. The 28th was set to feature KT's Oh Won-seok against Samsung's Kim Baek-san, but on the 29th, both teams will send out their foreign aces—Logan and Chris Pedeck respectively. The contest for the top position has been reframed as a head-to-head battle of foreign ace pitchers.

Will Logan, Who Held Against Samsung, Convert It to Victory This Time?

KT's starter Logan has made 10 appearances this season with a record of 5 wins and 1 loss, posting a 2.91 ERA. Responsible for 55⅔ innings, he has established himself as the centerpiece of KT's starting rotation.

Samsung is not a unfamiliar opponent for Logan. On June 27th in Daegu, he recorded a quality start against Samsung's batting lineup with 6 innings, 5 hits allowed, 3 walks, and 2 earned runs. Though he put multiple runners on base several times, he did not allow a home run and weathered the crisis.

At that time, KT held a 3-2 lead when Logan left the mound, but the bullpen allowed a comeback in the 8th inning, resulting in a 3-4 loss. It was an unfortunate game in which Logan's strong pitching was not converted into a victory.

Logan's mission this time is clear. In Daegu, where home runs come easily, he must minimize baserunners and avoid giving Samsung's middle lineup a decisive blow. If he can limit Samsung to around 2 runs over 6 or more innings, as in their previous matchup, KT can certainly compete. It is also important for the bullpen to protect the momentum created by the starter through the end.

A 3-8 Disadvantage ... Winless in Recent Daegu Three-Game Series

KT is trailing 3 wins and 8 losses in their head-to-head matchups with Samsung this season. In their most recent three-game series in Daegu from June 26-28, they lost all three games with scores of 1-9, 3-4, and 4-7 respectively.

Though they conceded heavily in the first game, the remaining two games offered opportunities for comebacks. In the second game, behind Logan's strong pitching, they led into the late innings, and in the final game, they scored 4 runs and attacked Samsung's mound. While the head-to-head record shows a clear disadvantage, the game content was not consistently one-sided.

There are also positive memories. Last August at Suwon, in a three-game series against Samsung, KT lost the first game 4-8 but then won back-to-back victories 3-1 and 9-2, creating a winning series. It was an experience of not being shaken by a single game result and reversing the momentum of the series.

In this away series in Daegu, rather than being conscious of past disadvantages, KT needs the power to change the atmosphere within the game. Even if they concede the first run, they must prevent additional runs and immediately pursue with focus.

The Hilliard and Jang Sung-woo Absence Requires 'Strategic Baseball'

KT's biggest concern is the simultaneous absence of their core batting lineup and catcher.

With Hilliard out, KT has lost the key slugger capable of changing momentum with a single home run. Jang Sung-woo's absence impacts not only batting but also the catcher's pitcher management and game operations. How well the starting catcher behind the mask coordinated with Logan will also be a point to watch.

To fill the roster gap, Manager Kangchul Lee's bench management and the players' tactical execution abilities must be more refined than usual. Rather than engaging Samsung in a direct slugging match, KT must create scoring opportunities through base hits, extra-base hits, and aggressive baserunning.

The timing of substitute batters and runners, as well as tactical plays such as bunts and hit-and-runs, can also influence the outcome. However, tactics are not completed by bench instructions alone. Batters must direct the ball in the necessary direction, and runners must make accurate judgments to advance an extra base. This is a game that requires organizational teamwork where all players perform their roles rather than relying on a single player's heroics.

Kwon Dong-jin's Strength Against Samsung; The Key to the Offense

KT's Kwon Dong-jin is worth noting from the lineup.

Though Kwon Dong-jin has a .272 batting average for the season, he boasts a .385 average over his last five games with good batting form. Against Samsung, he has been particularly strong with 7 hits in 15 at-bats for a .467 average.

While not a player who wins with home runs, Kwon Dong-jin can sustain the offensive flow through precise hitting and reaching base. With Hilliard sidelined, he must take on a role beyond simply connecting hitters—creating scoring opportunities and drawing in runners.

From Samsung's side, Kim Sung-yun—posting a .312 seasonal average and .556 over his last five games—is a batter KT's pitching must be wary of.

Against the opposing starter Pedeck, who has allowed a 2.61 ERA and 0.76 WHIP over 38 innings in 6 games with a 3-2 record, allowing baserunners is rare. For KT batters, including Kwon Dong-jin, it is important to increase pitch counts through relentless at-bats rather than rushing for extra-base hits.

KT Must Settle the Game Before Kim Jae-yun Takes the Mound

If the game becomes close, Samsung's closer Kim Jae-yun's presence becomes a burden for KT. Kim Jae-yun is leading the league with 28 saves. If Samsung takes a lead into the 9th inning, it will not be easy for KT to overturn the result.

For KT, the 6th to 8th innings—immediately after Pedeck comes out—are critical turning points. They must actively use substitute batters and runners to at least tie the game or gain a lead. They must not repeat the scene from Logan's previous game against Samsung, where the starter left with a lead only for the bullpen to allow a comeback.

Ultimately, KT's success in holding the lead depends on three things. They must turn the extra day gained from the rain cancellation into recovery time, Logan must once again withstand Samsung's lineup for 6 or more innings, and the gaps left by Hilliard and Jang Sung-woo must be filled through the baserunning—advancing and aggressive running—by players like Kwon Dong-jin and Manager Lee's bench management.

In a 0.5-game lead competition, what is needed is not a spectacular victory but a certain win. All eyes are on whether KT can fend off Samsung's pursuit in this lion's den by leveraging organizational strength and tactical execution.