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KBO Picks & Odds (October 30): Chang Mo Koo Finally Returns

Chris Amberley

by Chris Amberley in News

Updated Mar 5, 2021 · 9:31 AM PST

An NC Dinos hitter swinging the bat
Photo by 노무진, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons.
  • NC’s Chang Mo Koo will make his first start since July 26th on Friday
  •  Koo was 9-0, with a 1.53 ERA and 0.81 WHIP before being sidelined by a forearm injury
  • Find odds and best bets for the KBO’s five-game slate on October 30th in the article below

Chang Mo Koo is finally back in our lives. The 23-year-old was in the midst of one of the greatest seasons ever by a KBO pitcher before succumbing to a forearm injury at the end of July.

The left-hander will make his first start since July 26th on Friday, taking on the Samsung Lions at 5:30 am EST.

 KBO Odds: Friday, October 30th

Team Moneyline Runline Over/Under Run Total Game Time (Eastern)
KIA Tigers -126 -1.5 (+128) Over 9.5 (-108) 5:30 a.m.
Lotte Giants +104 +1.5 (-164) Under 9.5 (-118)
Team Moneyline Runline Over/Under Run Total Game Time (Eastern)
KT Wiz Suwon -300 -2.5 (-112) Over 9.5 (-106) 5:30 a.m.
Hanwha Eagles +235 +2.5 (-112) Under 9.5 (-120)
Team Moneyline Runline Over/Under Run Total Game Time (Eastern)
Kiwoom Heroes +100 +1.5 (-215) Over 7.5 (-132) 5:30 a.m.
Doosan Bears -122 -1.5 (+164) Under 7.5 (+104)
Team Moneyline Runline Over/Under Run Total Game Time (Eastern)
LG Twins -172 -1.5 (-108) Over 10.5 (-106) 5:30 a.m.
SK Wyverns +140 +1.5 (-118) Under 10.5 (-120)
Team Moneyline Runline Over/Under Run Total Game Time (Eastern)
NC Dinos -350 -3.5 (+102) Over 10.5 (-122) 5:30 a.m.
Samsung Lions +270 +3.5 (-128) Under 10.5 (-104)

Odds as of  Oct. 29th at FanDuel.

Koo’s NC Dinos opened up as a sizeable -350 moneyline favorite and -3.5 on the runline. Instead of messing with those outrageous prices, let’s look at the over/under of 10.5 instead.

Koo Was Next Level Dominant

It’s unclear what kind of pitch count Koo will be on, if any, but he did show up last weekend in a relief role against LG looking crisp.

The left-hander began his appearance by striking out Yong Taik Park, the KBO’s all-time hits leader, to get NC out of a jam, and then proceeded to set the next three batters he faced down in order. He needed 19 pitches to record four outs, and didn’t allow a single batter to make hard contact.

YouTube video

At his peak this season, Koo was virtually unhittable. He allowed just five runs in his first eight starts, and held enemy hitters to one run or less in nine of 13 outings. When he went down with his injury, he led the KBO in wins, ERA, WHIP and strikeouts, posting an absurd 100-17 strikeout-to-walk rate.

He’s faced the Lions twice in 2020, shutting them out both times and holding them to just three hits over 12 innings.

Samsung will counter with Tae In Won, who was incredibly sharp in his last outing. Facing second place KT Wiz, he limited the Suwon to one run and five hits over 7 innings. He last faced the Dinos in September, and scattered four hits over 6 scoreless innings.

Pick: Under 10.5 (-104)

Alcantara Eyes 20th Win

Elsewhere in the KBO on Friday, Doosan can surpass Kiwoom for fourth place in the standings with a victory. The Bears will give the ball to ace Raul Alcantara, who is looking to become the KBO’s first 20-game winner.

The right-hander has surrendered just three runs total over his last four starts, and has an excellent track record versus the Heroes. He’s 3-0 against them this season, with a sparkling 1.04 ERA.

Kiwoom will give the ball to their ace Eric Jokisch, but the left-hander has struggled against the defending champs in 2020. Jokisch is 1-2 versus Doosan, with a 4.43 ERA, and is fresh off one of his worst performances of the season. Last time out, the Bears lit him up for five runs and seven hits in just 2.2 innings.

It marked the second straight start that Jokisch has failed to make it out of the 5th, which is a troubling sign with the playoffs looming. If Kiwoom has any hopes of making a championship run, they’ll need Jokisch to revert back to the elite form he’s shown for most of the season.

Pick: Doosan Bears moneyline (-122)

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