Both postseason openers turn on how the first half gives way to the relief innings. At Koshien, the starters have each handled this opponent well, so a compact game takes shape. At Jamsil, Kwak's recent command meets Carrasco's shorter outings. In both games, the batters facing the first change of pitcher can decide the contest.
Hanshin looks to put Chikamoto or Nakano on base for Morishita and Oyama, while DeNA has Watarai and Maki to create traffic for Sano and Tsutsugo. Taira held Hanshin to one run over six innings in their last meeting; Murakami has also kept DeNA's scoring down this season. DeNA kept Watarai, Maki, Tsutsugo and Encarnacion near the top of its order in both recent playoff games, with Sano and Tobashira adding another scoring route in the second. That points to a close start and a middle-inning handoff rather than a runaway opening. I'm siding with DeNA to keep the margin narrow.
LG can score quickly when runners reach ahead of Austin and the Moons, but Kwak has held this lineup down in three meetings and followed with a walk-free, eleven-strikeout start. Carrasco's last two starts ended in the middle innings, where Yang Eui-ji, Severino and Yang Seok-hwan can turn Doosan traffic into runs. Park Jun-soon is out, Son A-seop started the last game, and LG must cover its missing late relief roles with a changed group. Doosan has also prepared Logue for relief behind Kwak. I see Doosan carrying the stronger starter-to-relief path, so I'm siding with Doosan to win.
