The 2026 Korean Series stands on a razor’s edge as the KT Wiz, down 1-3 in the best-of-seven championship, will hand the ball to right-hander Davis Daniel in a must-win Game 5, while the Samsung Lions counter with Won Tae-in. The decisive game is scheduled for 2 p.m. on November 8 at Daegu Samsung Lions Park.
The series has seen a shift in momentum. After splitting the first two games in Suwon—one win each—Samsung won Game 3 and Game 4 in Daegu, taking a commanding 3-1 lead. KT’s victory in Game 1 was secured by Daniel’s strong pitching performance, where he threw six innings, allowing five hits, one home run, and three earned runs while striking out seven.
A Desperate Gamble for the Wiz
Trailing 1-3, the KT Wiz are turning to Daniel, who delivered a winning effort in Game 1. Manager Lee Kang-cheol announced Daniel as the starter for Game 5, a role he was surprisingly given at the start of the series despite his lack of prior experience against Samsung. This decision came after KT replaced struggling starter Matt Sauer with Daniel in August, a move that proved successful. Daniel recorded a 5-2 record with a 2.13 ERA in 10 regular-season starts, including a stellar 4-1 record with a 1.16 ERA in five games at Suwon’s home stadium.
However, this will be Daniel’s first time pitching in Daegu. With the series on the line, Lee expressed a full commitment to his bullpen, stating, “Tomorrow, if (Gyeong-pyo) Ko and (Hyeong-jun) So are in good shape, I will have them all on standby.”
The Lions’ Ace Returns to the Rotation
The Samsung Lions have named their ace, Won Tae-in, as the starter for Game 5. This marks a return to the rotation for Won, who has been used primarily out of the bullpen during the postseason. The move was necessitated by injuries to key relievers Baek Jeong-hyun and Lee Seung-hyun, and closer Kim Jae-gyun, which left Samsung’s bullpen short on reliable arms.
Won transitioned to the bullpen during the playoff series against the KIA Tigers, where he pitched in three games, recording one win with a 2.45 ERA. He continued his relief work in the Korean Series, pitching 1.2 innings in Game 2 and allowing one unearned run.
He was the starter when Samsung faced KT in the 2021 tiebreaker, pitching six scoreless innings. “My first goal is to finish the series in Daegu,” Won stated. “If the series goes to Game 6 or 7, I will willingly be on standby in the bullpen.”
KT Faces Championship Elimination After Regular Season Dominance
A loss for KT would mean the end of their championship hopes, marking the first time since 2018 that the top team in the regular season was upset in the Korean Series.
Won spoke of focusing on the immediate task, saying, “I can’t say my condition is good, but my goal is to pitch well.”
