The LG–KIA playoff meeting is shaped by the handoff from each starter to the bullpen. KIA has built early rallies by putting runners ahead of its power bats, while LG can answer with power against Shirakawa. In the Cup match, Samsung has two active finishers and Hyundai has three, making first contact and late-set adjustments central. Both contests turn on whether an attack carries through the next pitching or rotation change.
KIA's Park Jae-hyeon helped start the big first-inning rally in the previous game, ahead of Kim Do-yeong, Castro and Na Sung-bum. Carrasco held Doosan to one run over six innings in his latest start, but KIA scored four against him when they met earlier this month, with his later innings the key test. LG has its own direct answer: Austin has homered twice against Shirakawa, and LG's lineup can force an early pitching change if runners reach ahead of him.
KIA's main bats played in the previous game, while LG's Shin Min-jae did not start either of the first two series games after his hamstring injury. Son Ju-young returned for a clean relief inning for LG, and KIA has unused starter-capable arms behind Shirakawa after its first two starters covered most of the series innings. I expect KIA to work for traffic early and again as Carrasco meets the order later, then lean on that pitching depth to finish. That's why I'm siding with the KIA Tigers to win.
Samsung's Hoki and Kim Woo-jin supplied real finishing against Korean Air: Samsung took a full set and pushed another deep. Hyundai spread its attack across Jiang Chuan, Leo and Heo Su-bong against OK, but lost two sets when its reception was unsettled. The matchup is Yoo Kwang-woo finding both Samsung finishers from a playable pass against Hyundai's serving and tall front line, while Samsung's serve tests Hyundai's receiving wings.
Wang Bin missed Samsung's opener, so Hoki and Kim are the demonstrated scoring routes; both played that match. Hyundai's main attackers and setter also played its opener. Samsung can make an early set close through Hoki and Kim, with Hyundai's three scorers answering across later rotations. Hyundai's own reception swings leave room for the contest to extend and accumulate points. That's why I'm siding with a higher-scoring Samsung–Hyundai match.
