Seoul: The SSG Landers closed out July on a four-game winning streak, which pushed them to fourth place in the Korea Baseball Organization at 48-46-4 (wins-losses-ties). With the calendar having flipped to August and injured players on their way back, manager Lee Sung-yong said the Landers are ready to separate themselves from the crowded middle of the standings. Before their road game against the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Friday, the Landers were in a virtual tie for fourth with the KT Wiz (50-48-3), only ahead of them by the winning percentage, .511 to .510. The Landers are only two games ahead of the eighth-place NC Dinos but sit five games back of the third-place Lotte Giants.
According to Yonhap News Agency, manager Lee Sung-yong emphasized the importance of staying focused and maintaining sharp fielding as they head into a crucial month. "I keep telling my players that we have to play our game and stay locked in, and then the rest will take care of itself," Lee said in his pregame media scrum. He highlighted the performance of the middle relievers and stressed the need for them to stay healthy throughout August. Lee views August as the pivotal month of the season and believes the team must give it their all.
The Landers are buoyed by the imminent return of several injured players. Shortstop Park Seong-han is anticipated to return from his thigh injury as early as Sunday, ahead of the initially scheduled Tuesday. Catcher Cho Hyeong-woo and outfielder Han Yoo-seom, who have been sidelined with back and left shoulder injuries, respectively, are expected to be back next week. Lee expressed optimism about the team's ability to climb the standings by sticking to fundamentals.
A key factor in the Landers' recent success has been the performance of reliever Lee Ro-un. The third-year right-hander has been impressive, maintaining a 1.21 ERA over 52 innings in 52 outings this season, a significant improvement from previous years. In July, Lee allowed just one earned run in 10 innings while striking out 13. Manager Lee praised his dedication and new approach to the game, noting his improved work ethic and ability to throw breaking balls for strikes.
The Landers' manager is hopeful that with the return of key players and the continued excellence of Lee Ro-un, the team will solidify their position and make a strong push in the standings. Lee remains confident in his players' abilities to navigate the challenges ahead and aims to capitalize on the momentum built at the end of July.