The 2024 champion KIA Tigers and the 2025 champion LG Twins will face each other in the second series after the season opener to compete for their first win of the season.
KIA Tigers and LG Twins announced Adam Oller and Anderson Tolhurst as the starting pitchers for their first regular-season meeting of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on the 30th.
KIA lost both games of the two-game Incheon opening series against the SSG Landers over the weekend. In particular, in the opening game on the 28th they were leading 6-3 but suffered a shocking 6-7 come-from-behind loss after giving up four runs in the bottom of the ninth. The KIA trusted late-inning relievers Kim Beom-Su, Cho Sang-woo and Jeong Hae-young all collapsed. Starter James Neal's six scoreless innings of dominant pitching were dimmed.
The repercussions continued on the 29th. Starter Lee Eui-ri collapsed, allowing four runs on four hits, three walks and one strikeout in two innings, and the second pitcher Hwang Dong-ha surrendered six runs on three home runs. They were defeated 6-11.
The defending champion LG faced a similar situation. It was less shocking than KIA's outcome, but they lost both games of their opening two-game series against the KT Wiz. Opening starter Yonny Chirinos was removed after allowing six runs in one inning in the opening game on the 28th and must undergo a detailed examination for lower back pain. They ultimately lost 7-11.
On the following day, the 29th, they led 5-3 through the fifth inning but lost 5-6 after Kim Jin-sung gave up a game-tying two-run homer to Heo Kyung-min in the top of the sixth and they allowed additional runs in the top of the ninth.
Now the two teams will try to end their opening-series slumps and go after their first wins of the season. KIA will start second-year pitcher Adam Oller. Oller appeared in 26 games last year, pitching 149 innings with an 11-7 record, a 3.62 ERA and 169 strikeouts, a respectable performance. Though he had an elbow injury, his overpowering stuff was recognized. KIA considered re-signing Oller and decided to continue with him for another season.
In exhibition games he appeared in three games, pitching 9 2/3 innings with a 1-1 record and a 0.93 ERA. He recorded as many as 18 strikeouts. He also had eight walks, which was high, but his fierce stuff was reaffirmed.
Last year against LG in the regular season he appeared in three games and posted decent numbers: three games, 1-2 record, a 2.37 ERA (19 innings, five earned runs), 19 strikeouts and six walks.
Tolhurst, who joined last year as the replacement for Elieser Hernandez and posted a line of eight games, 44 innings, a 6-2 record and a 2.86 ERA, also re-signed and will make his first appearance of the season.
In exhibition games he left a record of two games with a 2.25 ERA (8 innings, two earned runs), 10 strikeouts and three walks. He faced KIA twice last year and recorded wins in both appearances. His ERA was a very strong 0.82 (11 innings, one earned run).
Meanwhile, for the game between the Kiwoom Heroes and the SSG Landers at Incheon SSG Landers Field, Kiwoom will start Nathan Wiles and SSG will start Anthony Venegas. At Daegu Samsung Lions Park, Doosan Bears' Zack Logue and Samsung Lions' Zack O'Hearn will match up as starting pitchers.
At Changwon NC Park in the "Nakdong River derby," Lotte Giants' Park Se-woong and NC Dinos' Toda Natsuki will start. KT Wiz and Hanwha Eagles will face off at Daejeon Hanwha Life Insurance Ballpark. KT will start Caleb Boshillie and Hanwha will start Owen White.
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