The KBO League, which was temporarily halted due to record heat, is set to resume.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) canceled 25 games scheduled from August 5 to 9 due to the extreme heat. This marks the first time since July 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic caused a league suspension, that the regular season has been paused for reasons other than international tournament participation.
After an unexpected break, the 10 teams will return to the field on August 11, resuming their battle for playoff positions. Games will take place at five stadiums across the country, including Jamsil (Hanwha Eagles vs. Doosan Bears), Incheon (Lotte Giants vs. SSG Landers), Gocheok (LG Twins vs. Kiwoom Heroes), Gwangju (Samsung Lions vs. KIA Tigers), and Changwon (KT Wiz vs. NC Dinos).
The most anticipated matchup features LG and Kiwoom at Gocheok Sky Dome. Third-place LG will start Carlos Carrasco, while last-place Kiwoom will send out Ahn Woo-jin. Carrasco, a veteran with 112 career wins in Major League Baseball, made a stellar debut in Korea on August 1, pitching seven perfect innings. Ahn, a homegrown ace, has maintained a 3.60 ERA this season after returning from surgery.
At Jamsil, Hanwha's Wang Yan-cheng and Doosan's Kwak Bin, both performing well this season, will face off. Wang, the only Asian quota foreign player, has 10 wins with a 3.34 ERA, tying for the league lead. Kwak has nine wins and a 2.66 ERA, ranking third in wins. Both pitchers are expected to represent their country in the upcoming 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in September.
In Gwangju, Samsung's Chris Paddack (2 wins, 4.24 ERA) will pitch against KIA's Adam Aller (9 wins, 3.36 ERA). In Changwon, KT's Logan Allen (3 wins, 3.08 ERA) will face NC's Riley Thompson (5 wins, 3.09 ERA), while in Incheon, Lotte's Jeremy Beasley (8 wins, 4.09 ERA) will go up against SSG's Pedro Avila (2 wins, 2.45 ERA).
The impact of this break on the teams' standings will be a key point of interest. KT, which surged to first place with a record of 12 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss in the second half, may feel the interruption in momentum. Meanwhile, second-place Samsung and third-place LG, both struggling recently, have gained valuable time to regroup. The fifth-place KIA and seventh-place NC, who have not played for about ten days due to the heat cancellations, will need to quickly regain their competitive edge.
Looking ahead, several factors could influence the remainder of the regular season. A total of 55 games, including 30 canceled due to the heat, have been rescheduled for September, increasing the physical demands on the teams as the season draws to a close.
Additionally, the Asian Games, starting on September 21, will be a significant factor. With national team call-ups expected around mid-September, teams with many players selected will need to secure as many wins as possible this month.
Under new heat management measures, all games scheduled until October 6 will start at 7 p.m., regardless of the day. There will also be a four-minute 'cooling time' after the third and seventh innings. However, if the heat subsides earlier, game times may revert to the original schedule.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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