DAEGU, South Korea (Interstat) — The Samsung Lions host the Kia Tigers on Thursday evening at Daegu Samsung Lions Park, with the first-place Lions looking to rebound from a loss in the series opener.

Samsung (58-36-1) leads the KBO standings, while Kia (51-45-2) sits five games back in the standings. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. under cloudy skies with a temperature of 86 degrees.

The teams split the first two games of this four-game set. Kia won Wednesday 9-4 after Samsung took Tuesday’s contest 12-5. The Tigers have won four of the last six meetings between the clubs.

Kia right-hander Shirakawa Keisho is scheduled to start. He is coming off a strong outing Wednesday against these same Lions, throwing five innings of three-hit ball, allowing one earned run with five strikeouts. In his previous two starts, however, he lasted a combined seven innings and gave up eight earned runs.

Samsung shortstop Lee Jae-hyeon enters as a key bat for the Lions. He went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs in Wednesday’s loss. Over his last eight games, Lee is batting .292 with four homers and 10 RBIs.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 6-4 Samsung victory, and its ELO system gives the Lions a 61.20 percent probability to win.

Both teams begin road trips Friday. Kia travels to face the NC Dinos, while Samsung visits the Lotte Giants.