KIA, LG in razor-thin race for 3rd
The KIA Tigers and LG Twins are locked in a tight battle for third place heading into the final days of the regular season. As of Oct. 8, the two teams are level in the standings, with KIA (.551) holding third by a single point of winning percentage over LG (.550). Third place earns a direct berth in the semi-playoffs, while fourth place must face fifth-place Doosan Bears in the wild card round. KIA has four games left against NC, SSG, Lotte and LG, while LG has three: two against Lotte and a season finale against KIA. KIA leads the season series 8-7, so their meeting on Oct. 12, the last day of the regular season, could decide third place.
Source: Newsis
Samsung awaits Koo Ja-wook’s return
The Samsung Lions, who clinched second place and a direct playoff berth, are waiting on the return of injured Koo Ja-wook. Koo felt pain in his left thigh while sliding into second base against Hanwha in Daegu on Sept. 30, and tests revealed a 0.5-1cm tear in a tendon of his left hamstring, effectively ending his regular season. Samsung plans to set a return timeline after a follow-up MRI two weeks after injection treatment. Manager Park Jin-man said on Oct. 7 that the timeline would come after the re-examination, stressing that Koo is indispensable to the team. Koo has batted .371 with 15 home runs, 102 RBIs and a 1.039 OPS in 114 games this season.
Source: Star News
Venezuelan outlet backs Reyes
Lotte Giants slugger Victor Reyes’ bid for the hits title has drawn attention from media in his native Venezuela. Venezuelan sports outlet El Emergente reported on Oct. 8 that Reyes holds a slight edge over KT Wiz’s Choi Won-jun because he has more games remaining. Reyes reached 203 hits for the season with a multi-hit game against KIA on Oct. 7, breaking his own previous record of 202 set in 2024, but Choi took sole possession of first place with 204 hits the same day. Choi has only two games left, both against Samsung, while Reyes has four: two against LG and one each against KIA and Doosan, so the race is expected to go down to the wire.
Source: Money Today
Lee Kang-chul backs Hilliard for MVP
KT Wiz manager Lee Kang-chul, whose team clinched first place and a direct berth in the Korean Series, has publicly backed Sam Hilliard for MVP. Speaking around KT’s game against Kiwoom at Gocheok on Oct. 6, Lee said, “Shouldn’t the MVP come from the first-place team?” and added, “Hilliard’s influence on the team reaching first place has been enormous.” Before the Oct. 7 game, Hilliard led the league with 130 RBIs and was in the group tied for second with 41 home runs. Lee also said he would actively support Ko Young-pyo, then tied for the league lead with 14 wins, in his bid for the wins title, including by adjusting his rest between starts.
Source: Money Today