At the end of June, there was a series that captured the attention of the entire KBO League. It was a battle between SSG, then in first place, and LG, then in second place, where the standings were reversed. The first half ended with no change. Then, at the start of the second half, they were tied again. If there’s still time, the rankings could change again.
SSG and LG will play the first series of the second half of the 2023 KBO League regular season at Jamsil Stadium on the 21st. The ‘big match’ has been organized from the beginning of the second half. As it is a weekend, many fans are expected to visit Jamsil.
It hasn’t been long since the two teams got together. They played two games on June 27 and 28 in Literature. The third game on June 29 was canceled due to rain. It’s been 23 days since June 28 and they’re meeting again. This time, the venue is Jamsil.
Until June 25, SSG was in first place, 0.5 games ahead of LG. That’s why there was a lot of interest in the three-game series in Munhak. If SSG could pull off a sweep, they could significantly increase their lead. Conversely, if LG got the upper hand, the standings would change.
As it turned out, LG won two out of two. On June 27, they won the first game 14-0, and on June 28, they won the second game 8-6. Trailing 1-6 after five innings, LG scored three runs in the sixth and eighth innings to come back, and capped the comeback with a run in the ninth.
This allowed LG to move into first place and extend their lead to 1.5 games. By the end of the first half, LG had four wins and four losses to make it 5-for-5, while SSG had three wins and five losses. The first half ended with a 2.5-game lead.
Back in the locker room. LG has a chance, SSG has a chance. LG has a chance to ‘widen’ the gap. If they can win three games in a row, they can extend their lead to 5.5 games. This means that they can establish a ‘dominance system’. They’re already 6-2 against SSG this season. We want to keep it going.
We are going with ‘full strength’. Yoo Young-chan, who was out due to a side injury, and Baek Seung-hyun, who left due to a bad shoulder, are coming. They even played for the second team. Jung Woo-young, who had a back injury, also joins the team. The mound has been elevated. The team’s batting average (0.285) and OPS (0.767) remain the same. The team also added a big bat by acquiring Choi Seung-min via trade.
SSG is looking to ‘take back’ the series. If they can finish the series with three straight wins, they can move back into first place. It’s a chance that won’t come around again. If they don’t catch them in the head-to-head, they’ll have a tough time dropping points. Of course, we have to win.
Good news. Choi Jung-jeong, who was sidelined with an adductor muscle injury at the end of the first half, is back. He has been training normally since the 17th. It is not yet known if he will be able to play on the 21st, but he is likely to be available as a substitute, according to the club.
Ha Jae-hoon has also shaken off his injury and is practicing. Guillermo Heredia, who traveled to the United States to become a U.S. citizen, is also expected to return in time for the second half. Once they return, SSG will start the second half with an almost complete squad.
For now, Game 1 will likely be a matchup between Kim Kwang-hyun and Adam Plutko. SSG will likely be without Kirk McCarty for the first game of the second half. It’s safe to say that they have no other cards to rely on besides Kim Kwang-hyun. For LG, Plutko is their strongest ace. There’s no reason not to use him.
It’s late July already. It’s time to start paying attention to the standings. They say it’s a “two-horse race,” but there’s a world of difference between first and second place. Winning the regular season is almost a necessity to win the Korean Series.바카라
LG and SSG are basically two of the strongest teams in the tournament. They are at the top for a reason. Now it’s a ‘catch me if you can’ match. There are plenty of reasons to win. SSG looking for an upset and LG looking to solidify. Who’s laughing?