KBO Picks & Odds (Aug. 30): KT Wiz, Despaigne Seek Continued Success Over KIA

• The NC Dinos have won eight of 10 matchups against the SK Wyverns this season
• The Lotte Giants are notable moneyline favorites against an overmatched Hanwha Eagles team
• For all the odds and best bets on Korea Baseball Organization action for August 30, check out the article below

Now that the Korea Baseball Organization is 90-plus games into its season, it’s easy to see who the best teams are (NC Dinos, Kiwoom Heroes) and who the worst teams are (Hanwha Eagles, SK Wyverns). But there are plenty of middling teams that, based on day-to-day matchups, could draw the ire or intrigue of prospective bettors.

Sunday’s game between KT Wiz Suwon and the KIA Tigers is one of those, and it’ll be one of the matchups we’ll review more closely in the article below.

Here’s a look at the entire slate of KBO games for Sunday, August 30. Note that all games start at 4am ET (1am PT) except the first game of the KT Wiz/KIA doubleheader, which starts at 1am ET (10pm PT on Saturday).

KBO Odds: Sunday, August 30th

Odds taken Aug. 29.

Despaigne Dominates Tigers

Judging only by the standings, there doesn’t appear to be much separating KT Wiz (48-1-42) and KIA (47-0-44). And in truth, their season series it close, with KT Wiz leading the charge, six games to four.

So why on earth is KT Wiz such a sizable moneyline favorite? The answer is their starting pitcher on Sunday, Odrisamer Despaigne.

I guess the best way to avoid the #KTWiz bullpen is just to have your starter go 8 @CespedesBBQ

Odrisamer Despaigne today: 8.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 7 K, 3 BB, 1 HBP #KBO

The season ERA is down to 1.69 for the former MLB starter. Here's all 7 of his Ks today: pic.twitter.com/uO8sVjyCsr

— Connor Newcomb (@ConnorNewcomb_) May 27, 2020

He has been a decent pitcher overall (11-6, 4.11 ERA), but against the Tigers he dominates. Despaigne is 3-0 with a 1.66 ERA in three starts against KIA this season.

His last time out against KIA, on July 30, Despaigne struck out eight in seven innings while allowing only one run. Count on him to stay hot against his favorite foe.

Pick: KT Wiz Suwon (game 1), -220

History Favors NC Over SK

The NC Dinos have led the KBO almost the entire season, so they’re a valid moneyline wager in most situations regardless. But that sentiment rings even truer when they face the SK Wyverns, who they’ve defeated in eight of 10 matchups this year.

That includes this 9-5 victory on Saturday:

A better question, then, is how to approach the over/under. NC scores runs at a higher clip than anybody (6.3 runs per game), but SK isn’t nearly as potent (4.4 runs per game).

Given that seven of these matchups have finished below 12 total runs, we’ll roll with the under.

Pick: NC Dinos, -188; Under 11.5 (-118)

Hard To Back Hanwha

Here are the facts: Hanwha has the worst offense in the league (3.6 runs per game) and the second-worst pitching staff (5.46 ERA).

They’ve also lost seven of 10 games against the Lotte Giants this year (including on Saturday, 9-7), and they’re starting Warwick Saupold on Sunday, who is 0-3 with a 6.50 ERA against the Giants.

While you were sleeping, Dan Straily struck out 11 Hanwha Eagles.

The slider K in the 4th inning👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/6gLcYpamVv

— Alex Fast (@AlexFast8) August 29, 2020

Lotte, meanwhile, is countering with Adrian Sampson, who is 2-0 with a 2.92 ERA against Hanwha. There is simply no justification to support the Eagles as an underdog value play.

Pick: Lotte Giants, -205