KIA, with the red light on the mound, is a surefire

'one-inning right-handed setup man', but it's disappointing.

Jang Hyun-sik fights back

The bullpen member most needed by the KIA Tigers, the leader in professional baseball facing mound management difficulties, is a pitcher who can reliably take responsibility for 3 out counts.

KIA will have to hold out for the time being with three starting pitchers, Hyeon-jong Yang, James Nail, and Young-cheol Yoon, due to the elbow injury of first starter Will Crowe and the departure of left-handed pitcher Lee Ui-ri, who is also recovering from elbow pain.

Crow was diagnosed with partial damage to his elbow ligaments, so KIA must consider the possibility of having to replace him with another foreign pitcher in the worst case scenario.

A big hole appeared in the starting lineup that had supported KIA's lead, putting a strain on the bullpen.

KIA, which has used the tactic of 'cutting off' innings by mobilizing all available personnel in winning games, is expected to lean more heavily on the bullpen for the time being due to the uncertainty of the starting lineup.

However, it is not easy to manage the pitching lineup because there is no right-handed pitcher who can cleanly cover one inning.

The left-handed batting specialist trio of Kwak Do-gyu, Lee Jun-young, and Choi Ji-min are doing their part to some extent, but the performance of the right-hander duo of Jang Hyun-sik and Jeon Sang-hyeon is not up to expectations.

Jang Hyun-sik and Jeon Sang-hyun's average pitching innings per game is less than one inning.

In addition, Jeon Sang-hyun, who was diagnosed with a leg bruise after being hit by SSG Landers' Guillermo Heredia's batted ball on the 10th, needs some more time to regain his normal condition.

Compared to SSG, where a solid setup man named Noh Kyung-eun is very active, the Samsung Lions, who are supported by two right-handed veterans in Lim Chang-min and Kim Jae-yoon, and the NC Dinos, who have formed a new winning team with two fast-ball right-handed pitchers in Kim Jae-yeol and Han Jae-seung, KIA's right-handed setup man's weakness is even more severe. It stands out.

Regardless of left and right-handers, KIA relief pitchers' excessive walks have reached a dangerous level.

As of the 13th, KIA bullpen pitchers allowed 93 walks, the second most after SSG (101). Choi Ji-min (15), Kwak Do-gyu (13), and Jang Hyun-sik (12) gave up a lot of walks in that order, so they were often caught in the second half of the game.

In a situation where there is no steadfast support from the pitching team, how KIA will manage the bullpen until Lee Ui-ri and Im Ki-young return has become a major factor to watch. 슬롯사이트 추천