Daegu:The Samsung Lions are poised to strengthen their position in the Korean Series as they prepare to field rookie pitcher Jang Chan-hee in the pivotal fourth game of their best-of-seven matchup. The Lions currently lead the series 2-1 after securing a 5-1 victory in Game 3 against the KT Wiz at Daegu Samsung Lions Park.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the KT Wiz will counter the Lions' strategy by sending left-handed pitcher Logan Allen to the mound. Game 4 is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start on Saturday in Daegu. Historically, only one team has managed to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the Korean Series to claim the championship, with the 2013 Lions being the sole team to achieve this feat.
Jang Chan-hee, who was selected in the third round of the 2025 Korea Baseball Organization draft, posted a 4-5 record with a 4.50 ERA, and three holds over 41 appearances, including nine starts during the regular season. In his previous encounters with the Wiz, he conceded four runs on eight hits, including two home runs, over five innings. Notably, Kim Hyun-soo and Sam Hilliard, prominent players in the Wiz lineup, were responsible for one home run each against him.
Logan Allen, who previously made a brief appearance during Game 1, allowing two earned runs on two hits in just 1/3 of an inning, will return to the starting rotation. During the regular season, Allen faced the Lions in Daegu twice, recording an 0-1 record with a 4.63 ERA over 11 2/3 innings. Despite giving up 14 hits, he managed to prevent home runs at the hitter-friendly Daegu stadium.
The KT Wiz plan to utilize Allen as a situational pitcher against the Lions' predominantly left-handed lineup. However, in Game 1, both hits he allowed were to left-handed batters. Allen's regular season stats reveal a reverse split, with right-handed batters hitting .261 against him, compared to a .317 average by left-handed hitters.