KBO Picks & Odds (August 11): NC a Rare Underdog on the Road

• Lotte’s Adrian Sampson has won just one start against a winning team all season
• SK’s offense has scored just six times in the last seven games
• Find odds and best bets for the KBO’s five-game slate on August 11th in the article below

Lotte has been beating up on some pretty weak teams recently, but now let’s see how they do when the KBO’s best comes to town. The Giants will look to extend their unbeaten streak to seven when they host the NC Dinos on Tuesday at 5:30 am EST, and surprisingly Lotte opened up as the favorite.

 KBO Odds: Tuesday, August 11th

Odds as of Aug. 10th.

The Giants have outscored their opposition 40-10 over their streak, while the Dinos have been slumping recently, having dropped four of six.

Dinos Will Feast on Sampson

Part of the reason for NC’s uncharacteristic struggles has been a lack of offense. Prior to Sunday’s game, they averaged less than four runs per outing during a 1-4 stretch, but they rebounded in the final game of the week versus KIA.

NC 8-1 KIA (20.8.9, 광주-기아 챔피언스 필드)

✔승: 최성영
✔결승타: 양의지(1회 2사 2루서 좌월 홈런)#ncdinos #NCvsKIA #STRONGER_TOGETHER pic.twitter.com/t6Y2sgGSRQ

— NC 다이노스 (@NCdinos_fan) August 9, 2020

The Dinos pounded 14 hits on Sunday and crossed the plate eight times en route to an 8-1 victory. Now they get to face Lotte’s Adrian Sampson, who’s won just one start against a team with an above .500 record. He pitched well last time out versus SK, a bottom-two offense, but in his prior outing he was embarrassed by LG.

https://youtu.be/eTQJKDEc-Ns

The lefty gave up 11 hits and eight runs in just 4.1 innings, marking the fourth time in 10 starts he’s allowed at least five runs.

NC will counter with Hyun Sik Jang, who will make his first start of the season. The 25-year-old had been very effective out of the bullpen until recently, giving up six runs in a combined 2.2 innings versus Kiwoom and Doosan. He was used primarily as a starter in 2016-17, so it shouldn’t be an issue to stretch him out for five or six innings if need be.

I don’t love backing Jang here, but the Dinos matchup against Sampson is too good to pass up getting plus money.

Pick: NC Dinos moneyline (+100)

KT Wiz is a Problem for Pinto

Speaking of struggling starters, look no further than SK’s Ricardo Pinto. The 26-year-old has allowed 23 runs in his last four starts and now has to face KT Wiz. The Suwon outscored the Wyverns 22-1 over a two-game series last week, and are 5-0 versus SK this season.

https://youtu.be/-W80i0Hmjqc

Pinto has been especially bad over his last two outings, giving up a combined 20 hits and 14 runs in just 7.1 innings.

The Wyverns offense meanwhile, has been ice cold, crossing the plate just six times total in their last seven games. They’ll square off against Suwon starter Hyeong Jun So, who’s been on fire lately after a shaky start to the season.

So Hyeong-jun, Nasty Changeup getting a Taz🌪️ swing. pic.twitter.com/6blUFoqsKP

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 9, 2020

He’s surrendered two earned runs or less in each of his last three starts, and is fresh off a brilliant performance against this same SK squad. Last week, he shutout the Wyverns over 6.2 innings, allowing only three hits, while striking out five.

Pick: KT Wiz Suwon -1.5 (-140)