June 9 KBO Doosan KIA Japan-Korea Baseball Analysis Sports Analysis
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Doosan, on a five-game winning streak due to explosive batting, will aim for a sixth consecutive win with Choi Jun-ho (2 wins, 1 loss, 3.73 ERA) on the mound. Choi showed impressive form with five scoreless innings in an away game against NC on the 4th, overcoming his prior struggles in the last two games. This will be his first appearance against KIA, and he must capitalize on the home advantage. In the previous game, Doosan’s offense scored nine runs, including a solo home run from Yang Seok-hwan, thoroughly exploiting KIA's pitching staff and showcasing their relentless batting at home. They are dismantling their opponents one after another. However, the bullpen has been fully activated since the first inning and must handle this game without any setup.
KIA, having suffered a reversal due to struggles in their pitching staff, will send Yoon Young-cheol (4 wins, 3 losses, 5.20 ERA) to the mound to halt their losing streak. After losing to KT at home on the 2nd, where he allowed four runs in 2.1 innings, Yoon has been struggling with his performance over the past three games. Despite decent outings against Doosan earlier this year, including five innings and two runs allowed on May 16, he has become inconsistent as the season progresses. Although KIA's offense scored eight runs, including two home runs the previous game, they need to find significance in the resurgence of their hitting. Nevertheless, Na Sung-bum's ongoing slump, as he continues to squander opportunities, is of serious concern. The bullpen, which allowed three runs over five innings, seems to suggest that Im Ki-young is not at his best.
In the previous game, Doosan's lineup showcased incredible resilience by overcoming a five-run deficit. This truly signifies the tenacity of Doosan. Their batting will be a key factor in this game as well. While KIA's offense did show signs of life, it's essential to note that after four days of rest, Choi Jun-ho's pitching performance has been promising, whereas Yoon Young-cheol has seemingly lost his trademark control. Although Doosan cannot use Choi Ji-gang and Kim Taek-yeon, they have Hong Gun-hee and Jeong Cheol-won available. Doosan is closer to victory with their starting lineup showing greater strength.
Projected score: 10-6, Doosan victory.
Win-loss: Doosan victory.
Handicap: Doosan victory.
Over/under: Over.