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[스포츠서울 | 남서영기자]This season of Ryu Hyun-jin (34, Toronto) and Kim Kwang-hyun (33, St. Louis) is a little different.
As of the 29th (Korean time), Major League Baseball in the United States has about five games left per team, and the outline of the team that advances to the postseason (PS) is being drawn up. Tampa Bay, which has already removed all magic numbers, has succeeded in advancing to the fall baseball early on, and there are still several teams fighting the final battle with a half game difference. It is also interesting to see whether Korean big leaguers who are playing in the major leagues will advance to fall baseball.
Among them, St. Louis, where Kim Kwang-hyun belongs, is a hot topic. St. Louis, which was not even in the wild card rankings because of its competitors in the same district, has recently won 17 consecutive games and is in second place in the American League Central Division. They advanced to the postseason by a 6.5 game lead over the third-placed Cincinnati Reds in the same district. It is the PS advance for the third year in a row since 2019.
The problem is Kim Kwang-hyun’s situation. Kim Kwang-hyun joined the starting lineup immediately after entering the big league last year, and after achieving outstanding results, he played an active role as the first starter in the postseason. But he is currently in the bullpen. The most recent win of the season was 7 wins against the Chicago Cubs on the 26th after switching to the bullpen ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers on the 8th. Currently, it is unclear whether Kim Kwang-hyun will join the team’s fall baseball for the second year in a row as he is included in the postseason entry.
Ryu Hyun-jin’s Toronto is battling with rival teams for a ticket to PS until the last minute. Toronto, fourth in the American League Eastern Division, are battling the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners for a wild card. Toronto, one game away from Boston and half a game from Seattle, is a thin ice sheet. Toronto, who has been on the PS stage for the first time in four years through a wild card last year, wishes for fall baseball for the second year in a row.
The team situation is important, but Ryu Hyun-jin’s individual performance is also important. Hyun-Jin Ryu, who started after a 10-day break, scored 3 runs in 4.3 innings against the New York Yankees on the 29th and took 10 losses (13 wins). The season ERA rose to 4.39 with an ERA of 10.45 in 4 games, 1 win and 1 loss, which he started in September. The sluggishness in the second half creates anxiety that the team will not be able to start as a starting pitcher even if they go to the fall baseball season. Ryu Hyun-jin, who has one last appearance on the pitch, needs a comeback.
namsy@sportsseoul.com
