The Samsung Lions trail the KT Wiz 0-1 in the 2026 Korea Series, and the man they are counting on to even the best-of-seven series is the right-hander teammates and fans call FedEx. After dropping Game 1 by a 7-8 score, manager Park Jin-man’s club returns to the field at Suwon KT Wiz Park, where FedEx will start against KT’s submarine right-hander Ko Young-pyo, MK Sports reported.
This is a high-impact assignment. Samsung rallied from an early 8-0 deficit in Game 1, scoring seven runs in the second half, but could not close the one-run gap. Now the Lions face the historical weight of the Korea Series: across 42 previous editions, the team that won Game 1 went on to win the championship 31 times, a 73.8 percent rate.
Why Samsung’s Season Rests on FedEx’s Arm
Manager Park Jin-man has tabbed FedEx as Saturday’s starter, and the decision carries real pedigree. The 2015 eighth-round pick was selected 236th overall by the Miami Marlins in that year’s MLB draft and went on to pitch for the San Diego Padres, Minnesota Twins, Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers. Across 132 MLB appearances covering 581.2 innings, he posted a 32-43 record with a 4.83 ERA before returning to the KBO League.
Since joining Samsung midseason as a replacement for Jack O’Lucklin, FedEx has been the rotation’s stabilizer: 7-3 with a 2.95 ERA across 13 starts and 76.1 innings. The proof against this specific opponent came on Aug. 29 in Daegu, when he beat KT in six scoreless innings, allowing six hits, issuing two walks and striking out seven.
His postseason form has been uneven but resilient. In the playoff series against the Kia Tigers, FedEx lasted just 4.2 innings in Game 1, surrendering five runs on five hits, two home runs and two walks with 94 pitches. Three days’ rest changed everything: in Game 4 he went 5.1 innings, allowed one run on six hits and struck out six. That bullpen-bridging performance helped Samsung survive the Tigers 3-2 in the best-of-five playoff and punch through to the Korea Series.
Ko Young-pyo Gives KT the Edge on Paper
KT manager Lee Kang-cheol counters with Ko Young-pyo, a 2014 second-round draft pick whose submarine delivery has made him one of the KBO’s most effective starters. Ko’s career line stands at 87-73 with a 3.87 ERA over 307 games and 1,354.1 innings.
His 2026 regular season was his best: 15-7 with a 3.28 ERA in 29 starts and 172.2 innings, enough to share the wins title with LG Twins left-hander Lim Chan-kyu, who also went 15-7 but with a 4.46 ERA. Against Samsung specifically, Ko is 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA in four matchups totaling 24 innings, a head-to-head edge that makes Saturday’s pitching duel tilt toward the Wiz on paper.
What the Standings and the Playoff Run Mean for Game 2
Samsung earned its Korea Series berth by finishing second in the 2026 regular season at 83-3-58, then outlasting the third-place Kia Tigers (79-2-63) in five playoff games. KT, meanwhile, took Game 1 in Suwon’s direction and now sits one win from taking the series lead at home.
For the Lions, the math is simple but unforgiving. With a 73.8 percent championship rate for Game 1 winners, Samsung is banking on FedEx to turn around his short Game 1 outing and repeat his success against KT to keep the series alive.
Game 2 Pitching Matchup at a Glance
- Samsung starter: FedEx (right-handed) — 7-3, 2.95 ERA in 13 KBO starts this season; 3-1 career-style success vs. KT, including a six-inning shutout Aug. 29 in Daegu.
- KT starter: Ko Young-pyo (right-handed submariner) — 15-7, 3.28 ERA in 29 starts; 3-1, 2.25 ERA vs. Samsung in four 2026 meetings.
- Venue: Suwon KT Wiz Park, Suwon, South Korea.
- Series: 2026 KBO Korea Series, best-of-seven; KT leads 1-0 after an 8-7 Game 1 win.
Lions’ Series Fate Hinges on FedEx’s Repeat Performance
If FedEx can replicate his Aug. 29 dominance against KT, the Lions will have a chance to keep the series alive; if not, KT will carry the weight of that 73.8 percent Game 1 history.
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