Samsung face bullpen crisis heading into playoff without closer

Samsung Lions face a major setback heading into their playoff series against the KIA Tigers, with closer Kim Jae-yun ruled out due to injury. The loss of the regular-season saves leader, compounded by the absence of several left-handed relievers, has left the team's late-inning pitching in disarray.

Samsung open the best-of-five playoff series against KIA on Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Daegu Samsung Lions Park. The opener was originally scheduled for Sunday but was pushed back a day after rain from a typhoon forced a postponement.

Samsung removed Kim from the playoff roster Saturday. An MRI confirmed muscle and fascia damage to the serratus anterior on his right side, along with bleeding along the fascia. The injury was classified as a grade-1 strain, and he was advised to rest for about two weeks.

The serratus anterior runs in a serrated pattern from beneath the armpit along the ribs on the side of the torso. It connects to the inner surface of the shoulder blade, stabilizing and controlling its movement — a region that directly affects a pitcher's throwing motion.

Kim appeared in 64 games this regular season, posting a 7-5 record with 35 saves and a 3.22 ERA to finish first in the saves category. The injury has ended his playoff run, and his availability for the Korean Series — should Samsung advance — remains uncertain.

Samsung's concerns extend beyond Kim's absence. Baek Jeong-hyeon and left-hander Lee Seung-hyeon were also left off the playoff roster with latissimus dorsi and back injuries, respectively, leaving Lee Seung-min and Bae Chan-seung as the only left-handed relievers available.

Manager Park Jin-man said he would not designate a single replacement closer, instead managing the bullpen situationally based on game flow and the opposing batting order. He identified Lee Seung-min as a key option for high-leverage situations.

The burden on Samsung's starting pitchers has grown accordingly. Chris Flexen will take the mound for Game 1. He went 7-3 with a 2.95 ERA in 13 starts this season but struggled against KIA, going 0-2 with a 5.25 ERA in two outings against them.

KIA will counter with James Naile, who finished the regular season 13-7 with a 3.49 ERA. He was particularly effective against Samsung, going 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA in four starts. Naile also pitched seven innings and allowed just one run to earn the win in Game 1 of the wild-card round against the LG Twins.

On offense, Samsung are counting on the return of Koo Ja-wook. The batting champion, who hit .371 during the regular season, injured his left hamstring late last month and remains limited defensively but is able to hit. He was listed as the No. 3 designated hitter in the starting lineup announced Sunday.

Veteran Choi Hyoung-woo, by contrast, was left out of the starting lineup — a decision driven by the need to slot Koo in as designated hitter and maintain defensive stability. Park plans to use Choi as a pinch hitter depending on how the game unfolds.

Samsung and KIA have history with rain-disrupted postseason games. In Game 1 of the 2024 Korean Series, play was halted by rain in the top of the sixth inning with Samsung leading 1-0 and runners on first and second with no outs. When the game resumed two days later, KIA rallied for a 5-1 victory.