KBO Picks & Odds (October 10): Dinos Snap Drought vs LG

• NC’s Drew Rucinski is fresh off back-to-back shutout performances
• Doosan is now just two games back of second place KT Wiz
• Find odds and best bets for the KBO’s five-game slate on October 10th in the article below

The weekend is here and two pivotal KBO series headline Saturday’s action. First place NC squares off against third place LG, while second place KT Wiz hosts fifth place Doosan.

The Dinos lead atop the standings is very secure, but with just two games separating second from fifth place, both of these matchups carry great significance.

 KBO Odds: Saturday, October 10th

Odds as of  Oct. 9th at FanDuel.

NC and LG will play the first game of a doubleheader at 1:00 am EST on Saturday, while the rest of the teams will take the diamond at 4:00 am EST.

Rucinski Keys Dinos Rebound

The Dinos will give the ball to ace Drew Rucinski, who’s stymied enemy bats in back-to-back outings. The KBO wins leader shutout Samsung and SK in his two previous starts, and has picked up a victory in five straight outings.

More strong stuff from Drew Rucinski yesterday as NC continues to roll. Had 20 called strike, 8 whiffs for a 30.4% CSW% against SK, including these back to whiffs to Chae Hyun-woo on his slider #KBO #KBOLeague pic.twitter.com/j3uNchSYYa

— Ben Howell (Him/Kim) (@benhowell71) September 30, 2020

The LG offense is no joke, ranking top-four in runs, hits and home runs per game, but has been awfully quiet lately. They’ve averaged just 2.5 runs in four games this week, and have been held below four runs in six of nine contests. They haven’t fared particularly well in two outings versus Rucinski this season, scoring only four times in 11 innings.

#KBO has announced 6 candidates for Player of the Month for September: 2 pitchers and 4 hitters.

Pitchers:
Aaron Brooks (Kia): 4-0, 28 Ks, 0.95 ERA, 28 1/3 IP. Tied for most Ws, lowest ERA
Drew Rucinski (NC): 4-0, 36 Ks, 2.27 ERA, 31 2/3 IP. Tied for most Ws, 1st in Ks. (1/2)

— Jeeho Yoo (@Jeeho_1) October 5, 2020

The Twins will counter with Min Ho Lee, who appears to have turned his season around. The 19-year-old has allowed two runs or less in three straight starts, but this is the same guy who allowed 20 runs in a three start span in late-August and early September. NC was held off the scoresheet on Friday, and I expect them to bounce back in a big way.

Picks: NC Dinos -1.5 (-130)

Can Cuevas Contain Doosan?

The defending champion Bears knocked off the Suwon 4-0 on Friday, and will now square off with one of KT Wiz’s better arms. William Cuevas will toe the rubber on Saturday, looking to bounce back from a rough outing. The 29-year-old was hit hard by LG last time out, surrendering six runs over 6 innings.

As good as Cuevas has been this season, blowups like that are not uncommon. Over the last five weeks he’s been touched up for at least six runs on three separate occasions, and you can’t afford to make too many mistakes against this Doosan offense.

The #DoosanBears have 4 runs in the 6th and are looking for more! pic.twitter.com/rTi1W1obPp

— Greg Peterson (@GUnit_81) October 2, 2020

The Bears have won six of seven, outscoring their opponents by 40 runs. They haven’t allowed enemy offenses to cross the plate in back-to-back games, and it will be up to Duk Joo Ham to keep the shutout streak alive.

Doosan's Ham Duk-joo comes in from the bullpen and gets Doosan out of the jam in the 6th pic.twitter.com/MDJcXTP9Vt

— Dan Kurtz (@MyKBO) October 17, 2017

A reliever for most of the year, Ham has excelled recently in a starting role holding KIA and Kiwoom to a single run in each of his last two starts. He’s posted a 3.74 ERA in 34 appearances in 2020, allowing just two home runs over 53 innings.

One of KT Wiz’s biggest strengths is its power and if Ham can keep the ball in the yard it will go along way to securing a Doosan victory.

Pick: Doosan Bears moneyline (+110)