The day of fate has dawned.
Will this season be over or will this be the final game of the season? SSG Landers will play the last game of the season against the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League Kiwoom Heroes at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on Sunday.
A lot is at stake in this one game. For SSG, it must win. KT Wiz, which finished the regular season first, is waiting in the fifth place with 72 wins, two draws, and 70 losses. SSG is sixth with 71 wins, two draws, and 70 losses.
If SSG wins Kiwoom, it will tie KT for the fifth place with 72 wins, two draws and 70 losses. For the first time in KBO history, the “Fifth place match” will be held. If the fifth place match takes place, the home team will be KT. According to the KBO rules, the home team of the fifth place match will be determined by the order of multiple wins, multiple points, and last year’s performance, but this season, the two teams are tied at 8 wins and 8 losses. However, KT is leading in multiple points, so it will be held at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, KT’s home.
If SSG draws or loses against Kiwoom, KT will take the fifth place and play the wild card match against the fourth-place Doosan Bears from October 2.
For SSG, it is a game they must catch. They will send Drew Anderson as the starting pitcher. Anderson posted an ERA of 4.07 during 23 appearances this season, with 10 wins and 3 losses and 110 ⅔ innings with 51 walks and 150 strikeouts. He took the mound four times against Kiwoom in three wins and 20 ⅓ innings with 24 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.21. 먹튀검증
Kiwoom will have Yoon Seok-won as its starter. The player that was originally scheduled to be started was Enmanuel de Heysus. However, the team finished this season earlier than scheduled due to injury.
Heysus had 44 walks and 178 strikeouts with an ERA of 3.68 in 13 wins, 11 losses and 171 ⅓ innings this season. He ranks second in strikeouts. If he had taken the mound at the game against SSG, he would have overtaken Kyle Hart (NC Dinos), who had 182 strikeouts, to rank No. 1, but he could not afford to participate at the game due to his adductor injury.
According to Kiwoom manager Hong Won-ki, Heysus has been uncomfortable since the fifth inning against the Hanwha Eagles on the 24th, and he complained of discomfort again during recovery training on the 26th, so he decided to cancel it on the 27th.
Yoon Seok-won, who will take the mound in place of Heyesus, was selected by Kiwoom as the 36th in the fourth round of the second round of the 2022 KBO Rookie Draft. He has pitched in 10 games this season and has a 12.60 ERA with six walks and one strikeout in 15 innings.
Tuesday’s game will be Choo’s last one. Choo, who had announced his retirement ahead of this season, has led the team for one season as the captain of the SSG this season. However, he has yet to play due to his shoulder injury at the end of this season. He has strong will to play in the last game. SSG coach Lee Soo-yong also has a plan to set up Choo at least one batter’s box if it is possible.
Kiwoom also has one player preparing for the farewell match. It is Kim Hye-sung. Kim Hye-sung will knock on the Major League door after this season.
Indeed, whether SSG overpowered Kiwoom and went to the 5th place match or Kiwoom sprayed red pepper powder properly. Attention is focusing on the last game of the fall baseball ticket.