July 2nd 18:30 KBO Samsung vs. KIA
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Connor Seabold (6 wins, 5 losses, 4.01 ERA) is aiming for his 7th win of the season. Even though he pitched brilliantly, allowing just 1 run in 7 innings against LG on the 26th, he couldn't secure the win. Seabold has been dominant in his recent two games, pitching 14 innings while allowing only 1 run. This will be his first game against KIA, but it's noteworthy that he's pitched 13.1 scoreless innings at home in his last two starts. Samsung's batting lineup has been struggling significantly, especially after the rain-out game declaration, and it seems their hitting has been washed away. The lack of power hitting is a particular issue for scoring runs. Kim Jae-yun's continued instability is likely to be a concern for the pitching management going forward.
James Neill (7 wins, 2 losses, 2.51 ERA) will take the mound to prevent KIA from sliding into a losing streak. Neill had a rough outing against Lotte on the 25th, giving up 9 runs in 5 innings, and his susceptibility to errors reappeared. While he allowed just 2 runs in 6 innings against Samsung on May 9th, his recent performances on the road—giving up 5 runs in three consecutive games—show he's a notably shaky pitcher. KIA's bats managed to score 6 runs against Ha Young-min and Kim Yeon-ju on Friday, but the significance of those runs in a 15-run differential is doubtful. The team will need some recharging during the 3-day rest period. The bullpen, having three days off, seems to be getting a rare and much-needed break.
During the rain-out period, KIA carried out a restructuring of their coaching staff to revitalize the team. The problem lies in that Connor, pitching at home, is a difficult pitcher to tackle, while Neill has been shaky on the road recently. Moreover, Neill's weakness against left-handed batters is stark, and Samsung has some quite threatening left-handed hitters at the top of their lineup. Samsung, with a stronger starting pitcher, is closer to winning.
Recommended Betting
Result: Samsung Win
Handicap: +2.5 Samsung Win
U/O: Under 10.5 ▼