Can the LG Twins, who have forgotten how to lose, continue their undefeated streak against the KT Wiz, classified as a championship contender ahead of the season?

The professional baseball LG Twins are set to face the KT Wiz in their first match of the 2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 2nd.

At this point, nearly ten days after the start of the 2025 KBO League, LG is the only team among ten franchises to have no 'losses.' They have surged to a joint second place with the Samsung Lions and SSG Landers, leading by 2.5 games with a stunning seven-game winning streak. After winning both games of the opening series against the Lotte Giants, they swept a three-game set against the Hanwha Eagles and won two consecutive games against the NC Dinos after heading to Changwon.

The greatest driving force behind the seven-game winning streak has been the formidable starting lineup. The five starters, including Yoni Chirinos, Son Joo-young, Eliezer Hernández, Lim Chan-kyu, and Song Seung-ki, have achieved quality starts in all but one of the seven games, with four of those being quality start plus.

LG's starting earned run average is the league's only mark in the 1.00s (1.50), and they have achieved five wins as starters. Lim Chan-kyu's first career shutout and Song Seung-ki’s seven innings without allowing a run have turned the happy fantasies of manager Yeom Kyung-yeop into reality.

With a victory over NC on March 29, LG has set a new franchise record for the most consecutive wins to start a season, surpassing the previous record of six consecutive wins set in the 2017 season. If they manage to defeat KT as well, they will be tied for second place in KBO League history for consecutive wins at the start of the season, a record previously set by KIA Tigers in 2003 with eight consecutive wins. The record for the most consecutive wins at the start of the season is 10, set by Samsung Lions in 2003 and SSG Landers in 2022, but with LG's current momentum, it's not an unattainable record.

LG is expected to start foreign pitcher Hernández against KT. In his second year in the KBO League, Hernández recorded seven innings with one hit, one walk, and eight strikeouts without allowing a run, earning a win against Hanwha on the 25th of last month and has had a sufficient rest of seven days.

Against KT, he made a relief appearance last year, pitching one inning without allowing a run and earning a hold. He also faced KIA in five playoff games, contributing to the team’s playoff advance with two saves and one hold while maintaining a 0 earned run average (7⅓ innings without allowing a run).

In response, KT has countered with 'trade acquisition' Oh Won-seok. Oh recorded his first win on the 27th of last month against the Doosan Bears, pitching five innings with two hits, six walks, three strikeouts, and no runs, and took five days off. He struggled against LG during his time with SSG last year, recording three starts without a win, two losses, and an earned run average of 8.25.

KT boasts a solid lineup that is considered a strong challenger to the defending champion KIA. Their formidable starting lineup, consisting of Emmanuel De Jesus, William Cuevas, Koh Young, So Hyeong-jun, and Oh Won-seok, is their greatest strength. They have shed the label of 'slow starters' and currently sit at 4 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses. In the midweek game against LG, ace De Jesus is expected to follow Oh Won-seok, having dominated LG with three wins and no losses and a 0 earned run average last year.

A baseball insider remarked on LG's early terrifying surge, saying, "We won't know their true skills until they face KT." Attention is drawn to whether LG can continue their fervor against a championship contender.

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