Changwon: The start of the postseason in South Korean baseball has been pushed back by a day after a pair of late regular-season games got rained out Friday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the game between the SSG Landers and the NC Dinos at Changwon NC Park in Changwon, located about 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, and another match between the Samsung Lions and the Kia Tigers at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 270 kilometers south of the capital, were both postponed from 5 p.m. Friday to 5 p.m. Saturday.
The Landers-Dinos game holds significant importance as the Dinos are vying for the fifth and final spot in the Korea Baseball Organization postseason. Currently, the Dinos have a record of 70-67-6 (wins-losses-ties) and lead the KT Wiz (71-68-4) by a minuscule margin in winning percentage, .5109 to .5108. The Dinos can secure their place in the postseason with a victory over the Landers on Saturday or if the Wiz lose to the Hanwha Eagles on Friday.
The Lions have already secured the fourth seed and the home field advantage for the wild card round, which was initially scheduled to begin Sunday in Daegu, 235 kilometers southeast of Seoul, but will now commence on Monday. The Lions will face either the Dinos or the Wiz, and will advance to the next phase with a tie or a win on Monday. Should the Lions lose on Monday, they will have another opportunity to clinch a win or a tie on Tuesday.
The lower-seeded team is required to win two consecutive games to advance to the next round in the postseason. Meanwhile, the other three seeds are already determined. The LG Twins secured the top seed and a bye to the Korean Series, starting on Oct. 25 at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. If the best-of-seven series extends to its full length, it will conclude on Nov. 2.
The Eagles are set to finish in second place and will commence their postseason in the second round on Oct. 17 at Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark in Daejeon, 140 kilometers south of Seoul. The Landers, as the No. 3 seed, will face the wild card winner in the first round starting Thursday at Incheon SSG Landers Field in Incheon, just west of the capital.