Incheon: The SSG Landers have secured an early lead in the South Korean baseball season, dominating teams that did not make the postseason last year. Starting Tuesday, the Landers aim to extend their winning streak as they face the Hanwha Eagles and the LG Twins, two teams that contended in the 2025 Korean Series. According to Yonhap News Agency, the Landers have won four consecutive games, marking the longest active streak in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) and placing them atop the standings with a 7-1-0 record. They also lead the league in runs, having scored 68. The Landers recently swept the Lotte Giants in a three-game series, outscoring them 28-11, following a series win against the Kiwoom Heroes, with a 22-15 run advantage. Both the Heroes and the Giants struggled last season, providing the Landers with a favorable start to the season. Now, the Landers are set to face more formidable opponents. The Hanwha Eagles and the LG Twins, both with 4-4-0 records, are off to moderate starts in 2026. The Eagles, second in runs with 63, have struggled with pitching, giving up a league-high 66 runs. Though they led the KBO in ERA last season, they currently hold the lowest spot in that category. The Landers' upcoming series against the Eagles promises excitement. Three Landers players are batting over .400, with shortstop Park Seong-han leading the league at .533. Park, along with Guillermo Heredia, tops the league with 11 RBIs, while Heredia and teammate Ko Myeong-jun lead in home runs with three each. The Eagles' new slugger Kang Baek-ho also matches their RBI count and contributes to their home run tally. Following the series with the Eagles, the Landers will travel to Seoul to face the Twins at Jamsil Baseball Stadium. The Twins have recovered from a shaky start, improving their record by winning two of three games against both the Kia Tigers and the Heroes. While the Giants have struggled, losing six consecutive games, they will seek redemption against the KT Wiz and the Heroes. Despite hitting the most home runs in the KBO, the Giants rank low in overall runs scored. The Tigers, who also hold a 2-6-0 record, will face the Samsung Lions as they try to overcome last season's postseason miss due to injuries. The Heroes, sharing the same record, will face the Doosan Bears before hosting the Giants. The KBO is experiencing a robust start in ticket sales, averaging 19,489 fans per game, an increase from the previous year. The league, which set an attendance record in 2025, is on track to surpass it, with 29 out of 40 games already sold out.
