Gwangju:As the Kia Tigers prepare to commence their postseason run in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) on Saturday, manager Lee Bum-ho is counting on the strength of his top lineup to overpower their opponents, the LG Twins. The first game of the best-of-five series will take place at the Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, located approximately 270 kilometers south of Seoul.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Tigers' lineup will feature Park Jae-hyun, who has emerged as one of the league's standout players this year with 19 home runs and 21 steals, leading off. He will be followed by Kim Sun-bin, the 2024 Korean Series MVP, and Kim Do-yeong, the 2024 regular-season MVP, batting third. Harold Castro and Na Sung-bum will follow, both of whom have significantly contributed with 21 and 31 home runs, respectively, during the regular season.

Manager Lee emphasized the importance of his top hitters, stating, "I think the game will come down to how well our first five batters will perform." He acknowledged the significance of the entire lineup but highlighted the necessity for the top players to establish the game's momentum.

Twins manager Youm Kyoung-youb has identified Kim Do-yeong as a key player to contain, though the presence of Castro and Na Sung-bum behind him poses a challenge for the Twins. Lee expressed confidence in his players, stating, "When he gets a pitch to hit, I am sure Do-yeong will do his thing."

The series opener holds significant weight, as historical data indicates that the winner of Game 1 has gone on to win the series in nine of the last ten instances of the best-of-five first round.

Regarding the Twins' top slugger, Austin Dean, Lee remarked on the importance of minimizing damage even if a home run is conceded, noting the depth of the Twins' lineup and the need to manage threats beyond just one or two players.