Landers Look to Extend Hot Start Against Struggling Heroes

INCHEON, South Korea (Interstat) — The surging Shinsegae Landers host the reeling Kiwoom Heroes on Wednesday evening at Munhak Baseball Stadium, looking to continue their perfect start to the 2026 season.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. local time under cloudy skies with a game-time temperature near 59 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius).

The Landers (3-0) have opened the season with three consecutive victories, including a 9-3 win over these same Heroes on Tuesday. Shinsegae’s offense has been potent, scoring 27 runs over its first three games.

Designated hitter Kim Jae-hwan powered Tuesday’s victory, launching a grand slam as part of a four-RBI performance. He will be a key figure again as the Landers aim to bury the Heroes early.

Conversely, the Kiwoom Heroes (0-3) are searching for their first win after a trio of frustrating losses. They dropped two extra-inning contests to the Hanwha Eagles over the weekend before Tuesday’s defeat.

Right-hander Nathan Wiles is slated to take the mound for Kiwoom, hoping for a better outcome than his last start. On Tuesday against the Landers, Wiles pitched six solid innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts, but was tagged with the loss in the 9-3 final.

The Heroes’ bullpen, which faltered late in Tuesday’s game, will need to provide stronger support to have a chance against the league’s hottest lineup.

Statistical models heavily favor the home side. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 4-2 Shinsegae victory, while its ELO rating system gives the Landers a 69.1% probability to win.

A victory would give Shinsegae a commanding four-game lead over Kiwoom in the early standings and a series sweep. The Heroes, desperate to stop the slide, will look to Wiles to steady the ship and salvage the final game of this two-game set.

The teams meet again Thursday in Incheon before both embark on weekend series against other opponents.