76.5% odds Hanwha's Samsung's first round, summed up in this one linethe war between Ponce and Diaz

Oct 17, 2025

Sportschosun DB

Fonsen or Diaz.

Finally, the playoffs between the Hanwha Eagles and the Samsung Lions will begin. Starting with the long-awaited first game at Hanwha Life Ball Park in Daejeon on the 17th, the two teams will enter a best-of-five war.

The importance of the first game does not need to be explained separately. There is a 76.5 percent chance. The winning team in the first round of the playoffs has reached the Korean Series 26 times out of 34 times.

In addition to probability, it is also important to gain a head start. In fact, when Samsung beat Choi Won-tae in the first round of the semi-playoff against SSG Landers, the series atmosphere flowed toward Samsung from the start. Choi Won-tae showed a particularly weak appearance in the fall, and he had no choice but to expect high expectations for this appearance, but he caused a major upset.

In the end, the players who have to do it should do it. In particular, the first game is drawing attention as a showdown between Hanwha starter Ponce and Samsung's fourth batter Diaz.

LG-Hanwha match held at Hanwha Life Ball Park in Daejeon on the 29th. Ponce is smiling while watching the game with Yang Sang-moon. Daejeon = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.9.29/

The rhythm of the team waiting above is clear. Pitchers can join forces and spray powerful balls. On the other hand, hitters are not good at it. Therefore, in the first game, the selection is overwhelming and the burden on batters should be reduced. So Ponce's role is important. With the ball power shown during the regular season, Hanwha fans will be able to watch baseball comfortably in six to seven innings.

So Diaz is also a key player for Samsung. In order to topple the Ponce, the most powerful spear must take the lead. Fortunately, Diaz hit a dramatic winning home run in Game 4 of the semi-playoff against SSG and is on the rise.

The fourth semi-PO match between Samsung and SSG at Lions Park in Daegu on the 14th. Samsung Diaz, with two outs and a runner on first base, is cheering after hitting an upset two-run shot in the bottom of the eighth inning. Daegu = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.10.14/

Coincidentally, the two are strong candidates for MVP for their best performance this year. The vote has already been cast, but it is an unpredictable race. It is difficult to distinguish between Ponce, a four-time pitcher, and Diaz, a three-time batter. Until the middle and late of the season, Ponce was expected to win the MVP election, but at the end of the season, Ponce's unbeaten streak was blocked, and on the contrary, Diaz's stock price soared as he exceeded the first 50 home runs-150 RBIs in the KBO league.

Who will be the champion of Ponce's shield and Diaz. The fate of both teams depends on the shoulders of the two.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.