Lions holding edge in Korean Series bullpen battle despite missing star closer

Before the Korean Series began, it seemed the KT Wiz had the upper hand in the bullpen battle against the Samsung Lions. The Wiz boasted All-Star closer Park Yeong-hyun, who led the league with 30 saves during the regular season. However, the Lions were without their own All-Star closer Kim Jae-yoon, who had been ruled out of the postseason due to an upper body injury.

Additionally, the Wiz had a disadvantage in terms of rested pitchers, as they earned a bye to the championship round after finishing first in the regular season. The Lions, as the No. 2 seed, had to play an extra round, facing the Kia Tigers to earn their spot in the Korean Series.

In the first two games of the Korean Series, the Lions' relievers outperformed the Wiz. During Game 1 on Tuesday, the Wiz nearly lost an 8-0 lead but managed to win 8-7. The Lions won Game 2 on Wednesday, 3-2, after starting 12 innings with Chris Paddack, followed by seven relievers to secure the final 15 outs. Park Yeong-hyun had to get five outs in both games. Both teams relied heavily on their starters, with the Wiz's Ko Young-pyo and the Lions' Chris Paddack each giving up seven runs.

The Wiz's bullpen had a 5.63 ERA over six innings, while the Lions' bullpen maintained a more impressive 2.45 ERA across 11 innings. Six of the Lions' eight relievers did not allow an earned run throughout the series. With Kim Jae-yoon unavailable, manager Park Jin-man relied on veteran starter Won Tae-in to cover multiple innings.

Won is expected to return to the rotation for the next game, either Game 4 or 5. The next three games are expected to be a battle of endurance, with both teams playing an evening game on Friday, followed by two afternoon games on Saturday and Sunday. The Wiz will need their relievers to gain momentum, while the Lions aim to continue their exceptional performance from their bullpen arms.