Samsung Salvages 1-1 Split in Hellish Suwon, Finds Its Momentum ... Looks to Flip the Script Behind ‘PO MVP’ Jurado
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- 2026-11-04 23:57:24
- Updated
- 2026-11-04 23:57:24
[Financial News] The Samsung Lions, having dramatically secured a 1-1 split on the road in Suwon and gained a chance to strike back, will put playoff (PO) MVP Ariel Jurado at the forefront as they look to turn things around at home in Daegu.
For Game 3 on the 6th—the opening game of the Korean Series’ three-game stretch in Daegu, Games 3 through 5—the Samsung Lions have named ‘must-win weapon’ Jurado as their starter, while kt wiz have named ‘big-game pitcher’ So Hyeong-jun.
The starting-pitcher matchup for Game 3 is widely seen as giving Samsung a clear edge on paper over the series as a whole.
Jurado was instrumental in leading his team to the Korean Series, turning in dominant performances against the Kia Tigers in the playoffs: two wins, no losses, and a 1.32 ERA in two games.
After pitching in Game 5 of the playoffs on the 1st, Jurado takes the mound following four days of rest, tasked with leading Samsung to a second straight win.
kt wiz’s So Hyeong-jun, who will face him, is no pushover either.
He is a classic big-game pitcher, with three wins, no losses, and a 1.48 ERA in eight career postseason games. He has also been strong against Samsung this season, going 2-0 with a 3.71 ERA in three games. In their away game in Daegu on October 12, he also pitched six strong innings, allowing one run and keeping Samsung’s batting lineup in check.
Ultimately, the key to the game will be whether the two teams’ starting pitchers can overcome their respective ‘nemeses.’
Jurado needs to put behind him the painful memory of giving up three home runs and five RBIs to kt wiz’s foreign slugger Sam Hilliard this season, including back-to-back homers. Hilliard batted .444 against him.
By contrast, So Hyeong-jun will have to get past Samsung’s veteran power hitters, including Lewin Díaz and Choi Hyoung-woo, who hit home runs off him in the regular season. In particular, containing Díaz, who has made a full comeback with four hits, will be a major challenge.
The Lions’ championship bid, after surviving a grueling Suwon road trip with a 1-1 split, is entering a new phase in Daegu.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter