August 18 18:00 KBO KT Doosan Hanil Baseball Analysis Sports Analysis
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KT, who suffered a narrow defeat after failing to capitalize on their last chance, will have Eom Sang-baek (10 wins, 9 losses, 5.15) on the mound to avoid being swept. Eom struggled in a recent away game against Samsung, pitching only 4 innings and allowing 6 runs, showing inconsistent performance typical of a ten-win pitcher. This will be his first appearance of the season against Doosan, and reducing fluctuations in home games will be a priority. The KT lineup, which managed to score only 2 runs against Kwak Bin the previous day, is still struggling to hit well at home. Particularly telling is their failure to score during a crucial moment in the 9th inning with one out and the bases loaded. The bullpen allowed a decisive run over 4 innings, indicating they are unlikely to secure a win in a bullpen battle.
Doosan, who achieved a three-game winning streak thanks to solid pitching, will challenge to sweep the series with Choi Seung-yong (9.00). Choi has struggled recently, pitching only 2.1 innings and allowing 4 runs in a recent game against SSG, showing none of his prior effectiveness. The biggest problem is that his velocity has significantly dropped. Doosan's lineup managed to score only 3 runs despite 12 hits and 3 walks against Go Young-pyo and Park Young-hyun, leaving room for improvement in their offensive performance. Whether they can regain their focus in this game will be crucial. The bullpen, which pitched 1.1 scoreless innings, was impressive, especially with Kim Taek-yeon closing out the game.
In this series, KT's hitting has not come alive at all. However, there seems to be some potential for a rebound against Choi Seung-yong. Of course, given Eom Sang-baek's characteristics, this game might be a bit of a challenge, but stability is more of a concern for Doosan, and Choi's ability to pitch innings could ultimately be a stumbling block. KT, who leads in starting pitching, appears closer to victory.
Predicted score: 7-5, victory for KT
Win-Loss Record: KT victory
Handicap: Doosan victory
Over/Under: Over