Baseball fever is sweeping through Incheon this October as the Samsung Lions and SSG Landers lock horns in the 2025 SOL Bank KBO postseason playoffs' second round. The best-of-five series, with a ticket to the next stage on the line, has already delivered its fair share of drama—and the action is only heating up.
The opening act of the series saw the Samsung Lions strike first, grabbing a crucial 5-2 victory over the SSG Landers on October 9. That win set the tone and gave Samsung a leg up in this high-stakes matchup. The Lions' pitching staff was lights out, with Choi Won-tae delivering a masterful six scoreless innings, stifling the Landers' offense and showing why he's been a mainstay on the mound all season. According to the official KBO records, "Choi Won-tae pitched 6 innings without allowing a run and struck out the opposing hitters," a performance that surely boosted confidence in the Lions' dugout.
On the offensive side, Samsung's bats came alive at just the right time. Lewin Diaz was a force at the plate, going 3-for-5 with an RBI and scoring twice, while Kim Young-wook chipped in with a home run, two RBIs, and a run scored. Their timely hitting put the pressure squarely on SSG, who now face an uphill climb in the series.
But as any baseball fan knows, the postseason is as much about handling adversity as it is about racking up runs. And adversity struck in the form of relentless rain. The second game, originally scheduled for October 10 at Incheon SSG Landers Field, was washed out after a persistent downpour left the field unplayable. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) officially postponed the contest at 4:37 PM, pushing the series schedule back by a day. The KBO’s strict protocol for weather delays means the postseason schedule is always in flux—especially when Mother Nature refuses to cooperate.
That brings us to today, October 11, 2025, when the teams are set to resume their battle at 2 PM, weather permitting. The forecast, however, remains a wildcard. Rain is expected through the morning and possibly into the evening, raising questions about whether the game will proceed as planned or face further delays. The KBO has made it clear that for this postseason, there will be no 'no-game' or 'rain-shortened' results; only the suspended game rule applies. If a game is interrupted by weather, it will be paused and resumed from the exact point of suspension on the next playable day, with only one game played per day in such cases.
Both teams have stuck to their guns regarding starting pitchers. The Lions are sending Herson Garabito to the mound, who posted a solid 4-4 record with a 2.64 ERA over 15 regular-season starts. His previous outing against SSG was a gem—seven innings, three hits, no walks, six strikeouts, and zero runs allowed. Garabito also pitched in relief during the wild card round against the NC Dinos, tossing 1⅓ scoreless innings. As for the Landers, they are countering with Kim Geon-woo, who notched a 5-4 record and a 3.82 ERA across 35 regular-season appearances. SSG is counting on Kim and their bullpen to bounce back after dropping the opener.
The KBO's postseason structure this year is a tightly regulated affair. The second round and playoff series are both best-of-five, while the Korean Series is a best-of-seven showdown. Each series includes at least one travel day between games, but the KBO is prepared to schedule doubleheaders if needed to ensure the postseason wraps up by October 15. The first pitch of the Korean Series is set for November 1, 2025, and the league is determined to keep things on track despite the weather woes.
Fans eager to catch every twist and turn can tune in to KBS2 for live broadcasts of the games. The third game of the series is slated for Monday, October 13 at 6:30 PM, with potential fourth and fifth games scheduled for October 14 and 16, respectively, all in the evening slot. The postseason attendance is capped at 1,000 spectators per game, a measure put in place to ensure safety amid ongoing public health concerns.
This year’s KBO postseason is also notable for a few key rule changes and administrative tweaks. The league has assigned 15 umpires to oversee the playoff contests, ensuring fair play and quick decisions. Video review is available twice per team during regulation innings, with an additional opportunity granted if both are used and overturned. In extra innings, each team gets one more review. The check-swing video review protocol mirrors that of the regular season, with two reviews per team and an extra in extras. The KBO has also increased the number of coaches allowed on postseason rosters to ten, with one designated as either a QC coach or an analytics coach if all ten slots are filled.
One of the most significant shifts this postseason is the ban on foreign players—a move that has sparked plenty of debate among fans and pundits alike. The KBO is managing the postseason with an iron grip, determined to avoid unnecessary delays or controversies. The league’s commitment to completing the games on schedule is unwavering, even if that means squeezing in doubleheaders or extending the season by a day or two if weather intervenes.
Looking ahead, the series remains wide open. Samsung’s Game 1 victory gives them a psychological edge, but SSG is hardly out of contention. With experienced arms like Kim Geon-woo ready to take the ball and a resilient bullpen behind him, the Landers are poised to fight back. The Lions, meanwhile, will look to maintain their momentum and capitalize on their early lead in the series.
As the rain clouds linger over Incheon, both teams and their fans are keeping a close eye on the skies—and on each other. The KBO’s strict rules and contingency plans are being put to the test, but the spirit of postseason baseball endures. With every pitch, every hit, and every managerial move, the stakes grow higher.
For now, all eyes are on the weather and the resumption of play. If the rain holds off, fans can expect another thrilling chapter in this postseason rivalry. But no matter what happens, the 2025 KBO playoffs are already proving to be a test of patience, resilience, and championship ambition.
Stay tuned as the action continues to unfold—one inning, and possibly one rain delay, at a time.
