KIA Tigers Bullpen Collapses Again... 6-Game Losing Streak and Distant Hope for Top 4

[Financial News]  The KIA Tigers' 2025 season is shaking. At the center of this is the mound, especially the bullpen's severe slump.
KIA lost 3-5 in the last game of the away 3-game series against Lotte Giants held at Sajik Stadium on the 27th. They lost all three weekend games, falling into a 6-game losing streak. Recent 11 games, 1 win, 10 losses. The .500 winning percentage is on the verge of collapsing.
Most importantly, being swept by the top-ranked Hanwha, second-ranked LG, and third-ranked Lotte, with whom they started the ranking battle, is a fatal blow. 
The beginning was the game against LG on the 21st. Jeong Hae-young's blown save, failing to protect a 3-run lead, was the prelude. The shock of that day left a ripple effect beyond a mere single loss.
Since then, the bullpen has collapsed sequentially. Closer Jeong Hae-young has allowed 6 runs in 6.1 innings (ERA 8.53) in July, and setup man Jo Sang-woo has allowed 10 runs in 6.1 innings (ERA 12.79), failing to fulfill their roles.
The same was true on the 27th. In the bottom of the 8th inning, tied 2-2, with 2 outs and runners on second and third, Jo Sang-woo allowed a 2-RBI double to Jeon Jun-woo, collapsing. He then gave up another RBI double to Han Tae-yang, allowing 3 runs. Although Jo Sang-woo has recorded 24 holds this season, based on recent performances, it's hard to call him a 'setup man' anymore.
Jeong Hae-young has also lost trust as a closer. Although his fastball velocity has returned, his control is shaky. It's not just a problem of one or two games. The repeated unstable pitching throughout July is more aptly described as 'collapse' rather than 'crisis'.



As the bullpen collapses, both the starters and the lineup have fallen into a slump. They are caught in a vicious cycle of dissonance. The presence of returning players Na Seong-beom, Kim Sun-bin, and Lee Ui-ri has not changed the team, and foreign hitter Patrick Wisdom's excessive slump in scoring positions is frustrating KIA fans. Wisdom's batting average in scoring positions before today was 18 hits in 84 at-bats (batting average 0.214) with 40 strikeouts in 101 plate appearances. Even considering OPS or defensive contributions, his extreme lack of decisiveness in scoring positions is disrupting the team's overall offensive flow.
The problem is the future. KIA is now tied for 5th place (46 wins, 3 draws, 46 losses) with Samsung and SSG, stuck in the middle ranks. The gap with 3rd place Lotte is 5.5 games, and 2.5 games with 4th place KT. In a fiercely competitive ranking battle, if this slump continues, there is concern not only about missing the fall baseball but also about falling out of the middle ranks.
KIA is facing its biggest crisis of the season. Above all, the most urgent task for a rebound in the remaining season is the recovery of the bullpen.
jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter