KIA vs. Samsung Playoff Tied 2-2: Game 5 at 2 p.m. Nov. 1 in Daegu Decides Who Faces kt in the Korean Series

KIA won Game 4

KIA beat Samsung 4-2 in Gwangju on Oct. 30. Han Jun-su's go-ahead RBI single and the bullpen settled it, and the series is level at 2-2.

Jurado vs. Oller, and who is left to pitch

Game 5 is a rematch of Game 2 starters Ariel Jurado (Samsung) and Adam Oller (KIA).

The bullpens are the problem. Samsung has already used 9 of its 13 pitchers and KIA 11 of 14. KIA's Yang Hyun-jong, who didn't pitch in Game 4, is likely to come in early if Oller struggles or when Samsung's left-handed middle of the order (Koo Ja-wook, Lewin Diaz, Choi Hyung-woo) comes up. Samsung's closer Kim Jae-yoon is out with a right-arm injury, so starter Won Tae-in is being used as a late-game 'joker'.

What history says about Game 5

Of 35 best-of-five playoffs since 1986, 15 went to a Game 5; this is the 16th.

In nine earlier Game 5s that were 1-1 after two games, the team that lost Game 3 and won Game 4 took Game 5 seven times. That is KIA's exact path. But since 1989, the second-place team has won 8 of 13 playoff Game 5s, and Samsung finished second this year.

The MVP will be decided by one swing

Through four games, Choi Hyung-woo (Samsung) and Lewin Diaz lead with two homers each, Kim Do-young (KIA) is hitting .438, best of both teams, and Han Jun-su has a homer, three RBI and a .417 average. Castro leads the series with five RBI. Samsung reliever Lee Seung-min has appeared in all four games (two holds, 2.08 ERA).

Yonhap reports the MVP is likely to go to whoever delivers the key hit or pitching performance in Game 5.