SUWON — The NC Dinos have placed their postseason fate in the hands of pitcher Shin Min-hyeok, who will start in a critical Game 5 against the KT Wiz on Sunday, veering away from the anticipated choice of Erick Fedde.
According to the Yonhap News Agency, Shin is scheduled to pitch at 2 p.m. at KT Wiz Park in a match that will determine which team moves forward to face the LG Twins in the Korean Series. The choice comes as Shin’s counterpart, Wes Benjamin of the Wiz, prepares to enter the game on four days' rest after his previous matchup with Shin.
The decision to start Shin, 24, over Fedde, who earned the Triple Crown in the regular season, follows Fedde's suboptimal health after a dominant Game 1 performance in the series. Fedde was initially on track to pitch Sunday with adequate rest but concerns about his condition led to a change in strategy by Dinos manager Kang In-kwon.
Fedde, who has been recovering from a forearm injury sustained in October, exhibited shoulder fatigue after his outing on Monday, prompting the shift to Shin for the upcoming game. Shin has proven himself in his first postseason, securing a win against the Wiz earlier in the series with a performance that included 6 1/3 shutout innings.
His appearance in Game 5 follows another strong postseason performance against the SSG Landers, positioning Shin as a significant factor in the Dinos' playoff journey.
On the Wiz's side, Benjamin, despite being struck by a batted ball in the previous matchup with Shin, has confirmed his readiness to pitch in the upcoming game. He seeks to reverse the outcome of Game 2, which included surrendering a two-run homer to Park Kun-woo.
The Wiz aim to continue the trend of road victories in this series, having bounced back after initial defeats at home. Both teams have exhibited resilience, with the Dinos capturing the first two games and the Wiz answering back with two wins, setting the stage for a decisive Game 5.
The victor of Sunday's game will secure a place in the Korean Series, continuing the pursuit of the championship title.