The series opener showed how quickly control can shift after a starter leaves. KT built its lead through early traffic and middle-order power, while Samsung's late rally exposed the importance of each relief handoff. This meeting changes the starting-pitcher matchup on both sides. The first trips through the order and the bridge into the late innings should decide a tight game.
KT's Choi Won-jun and Kim Min-hyuk can set the table for Ahn Hyun-min and Sam Hilliard. Samsung answers with Kim Ji-chan and Koo Ja-wook ahead of its middle order. Kim Ji-chan and Koo have hit Ko Young-pyo before, although Ko has kept Diaz and Ryu Ji-hyuk quiet; the question is whether Samsung turns that early traffic into runs.
Chris Pedek replaces Samsung's starter who lasted only two innings in the opener. Pedek held KT scoreless across six innings in their previous meeting and followed a rough playoff start with a much better outing in his latest appearance. Ko takes over after KT received six scoreless innings from its previous starter, and he has gone 24 days without an official appearance. Kim Hyun-soo and Kim Min-hyuk both played the opener before thumb and hip concerns were reported; their participation in this game has not been confirmed.
Samsung used six relievers in the opener, but Won Tae-in and Lee Seung-min were kept available. If Pedek takes the game into the middle innings, those fresh options can handle a short bridge while Samsung's lineup tests KT's handoff again. The relative change in starters, Samsung's early baserunner route and its preserved late arms carry more weight for me than the opener's final score. That's why I'm siding with the Samsung Lions.
