It’s about selection and focus. Take the games that we can definitely take to secure the second place. KT manager Lee Kang-cheol emphasized the importance of one win and one loss as he announced the starting lineup for the doubleheader on the 27th.
When asked about the doubleheader against LG the next day after the rainout in Jamsil on the 26th, Lee said, “Sovereignty in the first game and exclusivity in the second. We decided to go with a bullpen day because they didn’t have Kelly in the first game,” Lee said.
Normally, the first game of a doubleheader would be a stronger pitcher than the second game, but KT had no other options in the rotation. Since they decided to give Wes Benjamin a day off, they had no choice but to use one of their sovereigns and exclusives in Game 1 and the other in Game 2.
Lee decided to play the sovereignty card in Game 1, anticipating that LG would start Kelly in Game 1, and go for the win in Game 2 against Exclusivity and LG’s Yoon-Sik Kim. “One win and one loss is a win,” Lee said, “Kelly’s been really good lately. I decided to do one bullpen day in Game 1 anyway. In the second game, Yeo Ji-seong has been doing well lately, so I’m focusing on the second game.” 메이저놀이터
The team also considered the postgame schedule on the 27th. After the doubleheader on the 27th, KT will take three days off before playing nine games, including a doubleheader against KIA on the 4th, from October 1-8. They will finish the regular season with a game against Doosan on October 10. All nine teams except KT have to play after October 10, but KT will finish the regular season on October 10 unless there is a rainout.
In other words, the nine-game series and the Oct. 10 game against Doosan were on his mind. Lee said, “Benjamin, Cuevas, and Ko Young-pyo all need to come out a lot so we can go out twice. I decided to pitch Ko Young-pyo on October 10 and made a rotation. We will rotate the team while focusing on games against ranking competitors.”
With Uhm Sang-baek out, the normal rotation is not possible. A tougher opponent is KT, which is planning a bullpen day and focusing on its No. 2 shooter.