"We meet Lotte and Kiwoom numbers 1, 2 and 3 all together."
KT Wiz manager Lee Kang-chul judged next week to be a turning point. KT will play six games next week against eighth-place Lotte Giants (Suwon) and last-place Kiwoom Heroes (Gocheok Dome).
It is not easy to take the lower-ranked teams lightly. Both teams have their starting rotations working well and their recent batting lines have come alive. If things go wrong, they could trip us up.
Before the KIA game in Gwangju on the 3rd, he said, "Next week we meet Lotte and Kiwoom. Both teams have good starters. Of all things, their numbers 1, 2 and 3 are all coming. Next week will likely be a turning point. Kiwoom will follow Ahn Woo-jin with Alcantara," and he showed tension.
Lotte will send Rodriguez, Beasley and Park Se-woong to the mound in the three-game series against KT. Rodriguez and Beasley have shown power as a one-two punch, and Park Se-woong also has the ability to record quality starts.
Kiwoom is also expected to deploy Ahn Woo-jin, Park Jun-hyun and Alcantara in that order. Ahn Woo-jin returned as an ace, throwing 160 km/h fastballs. Rookie Park Jun-hyun also displayed himself by throwing high-150 km/h fastballs. Alcantara also has reliable quality-start ability.
KT's starting rotation is also operating well, so they can match up with pitching. However, the lineup has weakened as four key hitters — Ahn Hyun-min, Heo Kyung-min, Ryu Hyun-in and Oh Yoon-seok — are out with injuries. In particular, the weakened lower part of the batting order is cited as a weakness.
The manager urged, "Although we performed well with those four out, our lower batting order has weakened. Next week is a turning point. We must perform well." He added, "Starting next week, one by one at weekly intervals, Oh Yoon-seok, Heo Kyung-min, Ryu Hyun-in and Ahn Hyun-min will return by the end of May." It was his determination to hold on until then.
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