The professional baseball rankings are unusual. As 27.8% of the entire season's schedule has passed, there are no teams with a winning percentage of .500. Hanwha, LG, and Lotte have formed a 'strong three' configuration, making the mid-tier ranking battle extremely intense.

As of the 11th, the KBO League, having played 200 out of 720 games in the 2025 season, can be summarized as 'three strong, six mid-tier, and one weak.' The top three teams are Hanwha (27 wins, 13 losses, .675), LG (26 wins, 14 losses, .650), and Lotte (24 wins, 16 losses, 2 draws, .600), all competing for the lead with a winning percentage of .600. The only season with three teams having a winning percentage of .600 or higher was 2019 (Doosan, SK, Kiwoom).

With three teams having a winning percentage of .600, an unusual phenomenon has occurred with no teams at .500. Fourth-place NC (17 wins, 18 losses, 1 draw, .486), fifth-place Samsung (19 wins, 21 losses, 1 draw, .475), and six teams including joint sixth-place KT (18 wins, 20 losses, 3 draws, .474), SSG (18 wins, 20 losses, 1 draw, .474), eighth-place KIA (17 wins, 21 losses, .447), and ninth-place Doosan (16 wins, 22 losses, 2 draws, .421) are all recording a winning percentage below .500.

The gap between third-place Lotte and fourth-place NC has widened to 4.5 games, while the gap from fourth-place NC to ninth-place Doosan is only 2.5 games, creating a tight mid-tier situation. Depending on the results of a three-game series, the rankings between fourth and ninth places could easily switch.

In contrast, tenth-place Kiwoom (13 wins, 30 losses) is hanging on with a winning percentage of .302, falling into the 'weak one' category. The gap to ninth-place Doosan has widened significantly to 5.5 games, and they have early on been pushed out of the ranking battle, becoming a target for the remaining nine teams to accumulate victories.

It seems unlikely that the configuration of 'three strong, six mid-tier, and one weak' will easily change, as the momentum of the 'strong three'—Hanwha, LG, and Lotte—is not currently apparent.

Hanwha, currently on a 12-game winning streak for the first time in 33 years since the former Binggrae era in 1992, is experiencing an astounding surge with 23 wins and 3 losses over the last 26 games. With a team earned run average (ERA) of 1st (3.07), their powerful starting pitching, combined with a winning formula from the bullpen, is formidable. Despite some inconsistency in the batting lineup, the defensive play aimed at minimizing runs is comparatively stable. It is unfortunate that starting shortstop Shim Woo-jun will be sidelined for a minimum of four weeks due to a fibula fracture from being hit by a pitch, but with the recent upward trend in hitting, Hanwha is highly likely to continue competing for the top spot.

Even after yielding the first place to Hanwha, LG remains the team with the best balance between pitching and hitting. They rank 2nd in team earned run average (ERA) (3.14) and 4th in team OPS (.747). With only 15 errors, they have the fewest in the league. Although they suffered a five-game losing streak from late April to early May, they bounced back with 6 wins and 2 losses. With players returning from injuries, including Eliezer Hernandez, Yoo Young-chan, and Ham Deok-joo, and Lee Jung-yong expected to return from military service on the 17th, they have plenty of pitching resources to rely on. However, foreign hitter Austin Dean's recovery from dizziness after colliding with a defender while running the bases, causing him to miss the last four games, is crucial.

Lotte, considered an unlikely candidate for the top five before the season, has emerged as the most surprising 'strong three' team. They rank 7th in team earned run average (ERA) (4.46), but are making a mark in a low-scoring season with their bats. They rank 1st in team batting average (.286), 1st in on-base percentage (.359), and 3rd in OPS (.763). They have the fewest home runs (24) at joint 8th, but their lineup features hitters like Victor Reyes, Jeon Joon-woo, Yoon Dong-hee, Na Seung-yeob, and Ko Seung-min, who can produce consecutive hits. While there's a concern with pitching, a replacement foreign pitcher joining due to Charlie Barnes suffering an 8-week rehabilitation diagnosis for a shoulder injury could provide the strength to maintain their position among the strong three.

The six mid-tier teams ranked 4th to 9th show significant fluctuations compared to the 'strong three' teams, lacking stability in their performance. They seem to be on an upward trend at times, only to quickly fall behind. NC, having lost their home ground and enduring a tough streak with 29 consecutive away games, is currently on a scary upward trend with seven straight wins, but it seems challenging for them to break the established structure of Hanwha, LG, and Lotte as the three strong teams.

Accordingly, the battle among the mid-tier teams is expected to intensify. With tight competition for rankings from 1st to 9th place, no game can be easily conceded, and Kiwoom, being the target of victories, is projected to face a difficult journey.

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