KIA's Kim Do-young and LG's Austin Dean will face off again in the KBO semi-playoff, 서울신문 reports. The series between the two clubs begins Friday.
According to 서울신문, Kim sealed third place for KIA with a go-ahead two-run homer in the team's final regular-season game. Dean kept LG alive in the wild-card round with a game-deciding home run of his own.
The matchup marks the first fall meeting between KIA and LG in a decade, according to 연합뉴스. That outlet reports the two clubs have split their past postseason meetings at two wins apiece.
머니투데이 notes that KIA has never won a semi-playoff game, while LG enters the series on a seven-game winning streak. The outlet frames the pairing as a return bout between Kim and Dean.
Defense could also shape the series. 서울신문 identifies center fielders Park Hae-min and Kim Ho-ryung as a variable, putting their play in the outfield alongside the power bats as a factor to track.
Separately, 조선일보 reports that KIA manager Lee Bum-ho has lifted restrictions on base stealing, saying he will let players decide for themselves. The outlet describes the move as making the reigning home run king more dangerous on the bases.
Watch whether Kim and Dean deliver another decisive swing, and whether KIA can earn its first semi-playoff victory against an LG team riding momentum.
