With just over a month left in the 2025 KBO regular season, the SSG Landers find themselves at a pivotal crossroads. The team’s recent six-game stretch against the KIA Tigers and NC Dinos at Incheon SSG Landers Field is shaping up to be a defining moment, one that could cement their position in the upper echelons of the standings and secure a postseason berth. But as the dust settles from a roller-coaster run of wins and losses, the Landers’ strengths and vulnerabilities are under the microscope.
SSG currently sits in third place, but the gap separating them from the chasing pack is razor-thin. The recent series has been anything but smooth. After riding the momentum of a three-game winning streak, the Landers stumbled, dropping two consecutive games and capping it off with another defeat in their latest outing. That leaves fans and pundits alike wondering: Can SSG hold on to their playoff spot, or will inconsistency cost them dearly down the stretch?
Manager Lee Soong-yong, now in his second year at the helm, set the tone early this season, proclaiming, "Our bullpen is second to none." His confidence wasn’t misplaced—at least not when it comes to the numbers. SSG’s pitching staff has been the backbone of their campaign, with a team ERA of 3.48 as of July 25, the best in the league. That’s better than the Hanwha Eagles (3.50) and the LG Twins (3.61), and it’s a testament to the team’s ability to grind out results even when the bats have gone cold.
Yet, the Landers’ offense remains a concern. Their team OPS (on-base plus slugging) is just 0.677, ranking ninth among the ten KBO clubs. Even in the hitter-friendly confines of their home stadium, SSG has managed only 84 home runs, putting them seventh in that category. Injuries and slumps have plagued core hitters like Choi Jeong (15 home runs), Han Yu-seom (12 home runs), and Heredia (9 home runs), limiting the lineup’s firepower. At home, the team has hit just 48 home runs while surrendering 54, a statistic that underscores their struggles to keep pace in slugfests.
Despite these offensive woes, the SSG mound corps continues to shine. Foreign ace Anderson has delivered a solid 9-6 record with a sparkling 2.21 ERA, anchoring a rotation that includes veterans Kim Kwang-hyun and Moon Seung-won. Young arms like Lee Ro-woon, Choi Min-jun, Jeon Young-jun, and Park Si-hoo have also stepped up, giving the Landers valuable depth as the season grinds on.
The real story, though, is the bullpen. The trio of Roh Kyung-hoon, Lee Ro-woon, and Cho Byung-hyun has emerged as a nearly impenetrable wall late in games. Roh, the 41-year-old veteran, has pitched in 62 games, notching 3 wins, 5 losses, 3 saves, and 23 holds with an impressive 2.32 ERA. After racking up 30 holds in 2023 and 38 last year, he remains the anchor of the relief corps. "Seeing younger guys like Lee Ro-woon and Cho Byung-hyun grow game by game is really rewarding," Roh said. "Being ranked first in bullpen ERA is a great feeling. I hope our younger relievers stay sharp and keep this up until the end."
Lee Ro-woon’s development has been nothing short of remarkable. After a rocky rookie year in 2023 (6-1, 5.62 ERA) and another tough season in 2024 (1-3, 5.95 ERA), Lee has blossomed in 2025, posting a 5-5 record, 1 save, 22 holds, and a stellar 1.78 ERA. His fastball has become a weapon, and he’s quickly become one of the league’s most reliable setup men. Cho Byung-hyun, who took over the closer’s role midway through last year, has 5 wins, 3 losses, 25 saves, and an eye-popping 1.48 ERA. His WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) stands at a league-best 0.82 among closers, earning him widespread recognition as the KBO’s most dependable finisher.
For Lee and Cho, the mentorship of Roh Kyung-hoon has been invaluable. "Just watching Roh prepare and pitch teaches us so much," they said, echoing the respect and camaraderie that runs through the bullpen. That chemistry has translated into results, as opposing batters have found little joy facing SSG’s late-inning arms. But as the season’s intensity ratchets up, can the bullpen maintain its dominance?
The upcoming three-game home set against the KIA Tigers is set to test that resolve. SSG will send Kim Kwang-hyun, Moon Seung-won, and Anderson to the mound, while KIA counters with Yang Hyeon-jong, Kim Do-hyun, and Lee Eui-ri. The Tigers have had the upper hand in head-to-head matchups this year, leading the season series 5-4-1. For SSG, avenging those losses is a must if they hope to solidify their postseason ambitions.
Both teams’ pitching staffs have shown vulnerability when facing each other. KIA’s ace Yang Hyeon-jong has struggled against SSG, going 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA in two starts. SSG’s Moon Seung-won hasn’t fared much better, posting an 0-1 record and a 4.91 ERA against KIA. The bullpen’s performance has been uneven, with recent games exposing some cracks in control and execution. As noted in recent reports, "SSG Landers struggle with bullpen performance and have difficulty controlling the game in late innings."
On the offensive side, both teams boast hot hitters. KIA’s Na Sung-bum has been on fire, batting .412 over his last five games. SSG’s Heredia, meanwhile, has hit .429 in recent contests, helping to fuel the team’s three-game winning streak. With both lineups capable of turning a game on its head in an instant, the series promises plenty of drama.
Team morale could be the biggest X-factor. KIA enters the series mired in a five-game losing streak, their confidence shaken and every error magnified. SSG, on the other hand, is riding high after a trio of victories and seems poised to play with a loose, confident swagger. Will KIA’s desperation snap them out of their funk, or will SSG’s momentum carry them through the crunch?
As the Landers brace for the final push, their fate may well rest on the arms of their bullpen and the resilience of a lineup still searching for consistency. The next week could decide whether SSG’s season ends in celebration or heartbreak. For now, all eyes are on Incheon as the playoff race heats up and every pitch, every swing, and every decision takes on outsized importance.
Whatever happens, one thing is clear: the SSG Landers’ journey through the 2025 KBO season has been anything but predictable—and the final act is still to come.
