Samsung Lions Move on to Face KT Wiz in the Korean Series

The Samsung Lions and KIA Tigers faced off in a winner-take-all Game 5, with the Lions hosting in Daegu. Ariel Jurado started for the Lions, while Adam Oller took the mound for the Tigers. The matchup was a rematch of Game 2, when Samsung cruised to an 8-3 victory.

The Lions wasted little time getting on the board. With runners on first and second and two outs in the bottom of the first, Hyoung-woo Choi singled up the middle, just eluding Tigers shortstop Ju-suk Ha to give Samsung a 1-0 lead.

Samsung broke the game open in the bottom of the second. After consecutive hits with one out put runners on second and third, Ji-chan Kim delivered a two-run single to make it 3-0. After Kim stole second, Seung-kyu Park brought him home with a single to extend the Lions’ lead to 4-0.

The Tigers got on the board in the third. Following an error by Lewin Díaz at first base, Jae-hyun Park tripled after Seung-kyu Park misplayed the ball in right field, cutting the deficit to 4-1.

That was all KIA managed against Jurado. In what was arguably the most important start of his KBO career, Jurado delivered when Samsung needed him most.

After allowing the RBI triple, Jurado surrendered just one baserunner to reach second base over the next four innings. He finished with seven innings pitched, allowing one unearned run on five hits while striking out three.

After earning his first postseason win in Game 2, Jurado was even better in Game 5. Across his two starts, he posted a 1.32 ERA in 13 2/3 innings with six strikeouts.

In the bottom of the sixth, with a runner on second and two outs, Kim tripled over the head of Harold Castro after Castro badly misplayed a routine fly ball, extending the Lions’ lead to 5-1. Park followed with another two-out hit to make it 6-1, further punishing the Tigers for their defensive miscues.

The Lions turned to their bullpen for the eighth and ninth innings. After Seung-min Lee pitched a perfect eighth, Tae-in Won entered for the ninth with a five-run lead, just as he had in Game 2.

Won allowed a leadoff walk but retired the next three hitters, including consecutive strikeouts to end the game and secure a 6-1 victory for Samsung.

The win clinched the Lions’ return to the Korean Series for the first time since 2024. Jurado was named series MVP after his performance.

Korean Series Preview- The Lions will meet the KT Wiz in the Korean Series. The series begins on Tuesday. The two teams were among the best in the league throughout the season. After battling for much of the year, the Wiz pulled away down the stretch to secure the automatic berth in the Korean Series.

Davis Daniel will start Game 1 for the Wiz. After spending much of 2026 at Triple-A with Louisville, Daniel signed with KT in late July and quickly became the team’s top pitcher. He posted a 2.13 ERA in 55 innings with 69 strikeouts.

Daniel was nearly untouchable at home, recording a 1.16 ERA in five starts with 37 strikeouts across 31 innings.

Won-tae Choi will get the start for Samsung. After using its top two starters to get past the Tigers, the Lions will turn to their No. 3 starter in Game 1.

Choi posted a 4.68 ERA during the regular season and allowed nine runs in two starts against the Wiz. In his only postseason start, he lasted just 1 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on three hits before being pulled in Game 3 against the Tigers.

The Matchup- The Wiz finished second in the KBO in runs per game at 5.73 while allowing the second-fewest runs at 4.51. Their starting rotation ranked second in the league with a 3.83 ERA.

Offensively, KT led the KBO in hits, doubles and OPS. Its pitching staff allowed the fewest walks and ranked third in strikeouts. The Wiz were arguably the most complete team in the league.

Samsung was not far behind. The Lions ranked fourth in ERA and sixth in strikeouts. Offensively, they finished third in OPS, fourth in home runs, second in triples and third in runs scored.

The Lions will look to become the first team since the SK Wyverns (now the SSG Landers) to win the Korean Series without finishing the regular season with the KBO’s best record. They would also become just the third team to accomplish that feat since 2002.