KBO Picks & Odds (August 25): Defending Champs Rounding Into Form

• Doosan is just three games behind NC for top spot in the KBO
• KT Wiz’s Odrisamer Despaigne has allowed three runs in 13 innings versus Kiwoom this season
• Find odds and best bets for the KBO’s five-game slate on August 25th in the article below

We’re less than two months away from the KBO playoffs and defending champion Doosan is starting to creep back up the standings. The Bears now sit third in the league, three games back of first place NC, and will be looking to inch closer to the top on Tuesday when they take on the KIA Tigers at 5:30 am EST.

 KBO Odds: Tuesday, August 25th

Odds as of Aug. 24th.

Doosan enters play riding a three-game winning streak and opened up as a sizeable home favorite. The Bears are 7-2 versus the Tigers this season, and outscored them 16-8 over a three-game series last month.

The Bears Bats are Alive

One of those games featured the same pitching matchup as Tuesday, and resulted in an 8-4 Doosan victory. They roughed up KIA’s Min Woo Lee for four runs over 6 innings, smacking seven hits including a home run. Since then, Lee has posted three straight losses, allowing 14 runs in the process.

https://twitter.com/OB_ears_1/status/1297516479907160064

Doosan’s offense has come alive recently, crossing the plate 16 times in a two-game sweep of SK over the weekend, while pounding 20 hits.

They’ll counter with Young Ha Lee, who’s been just as shaky as his counterpart. The right-hander was lit up for six runs last time out versus Lotte, and allowed four runs in just 5 innings in his last start against KIA.

Pick: Over 10.5 (-108)

Despaigne Dominates Kiwoom

Another team fresh off a two-game sweep is KT Wiz, and they’ll send ace Odrisamer Despaigne to the mound Tuesday versus second place Kiwoom. Despaigne has won each of his last five decisions and is one of just three KBO starters with 11 wins on his resume.

Odrisamer Despaigne, Wicked 82mph Slider…and flying Sword. ⚔️🚁

Romak barely avoiding being doubled off by the bat. pic.twitter.com/7hTs32mdzG

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 18, 2020

The 33-year-old has absolutely owned the Heroes in both of his starts against them this season, surrendering just three runs in 13 innings, while striking out 13.

Kiwoom will give the ball to Jake Brigham, who’s fresh off a pair of victories himself, allowing just one earned run in the process. He’s held the opposition to one run or less in four of six starts, while posting a 34-11 strikeout-to-walk rate.

Pick: Under 9.5 (-112)

The Dinos Desperate For a Win

NC’s lead atop the KBO standings is down to a half-game and they desperately need a win to give themselves some breathing room. Fortunately, last place Hanwha is coming to town, a team the Dinos have beaten eight times already this season.

NC 4-1 한화 (20.8.6, 한화생명 이글스 파크)

✔승: 루친스키 / 홀: 배재환, 임정호, 홍성민 / 세: 원종현
✔결승타: 노진혁(7회 무사 1,3루서 우월 홈런)

➕ 노진혁 개인 한 시즌 최다 홈런 타이(13개)#ncdinos #NCvs한화 #STRONGER_TOGETHER pic.twitter.com/doJH5DDwp6

— NC 다이노스 (@NCdinos_fan) August 6, 2020

All eight of those victories were by at least two runs, and the Dinos will be looking to beat right-hander Warwick Saupold for the first time in three tries this season.

Saupold has only made it out of the 7th inning once in his last 12 starts and the Eagles bullpen owns a bottom-three ERA. Even if Saupold does manage to pitch well, NC should still get plenty of at-bats to cash in against Hanwha relievers.

Also working in the Dinos favor is their dominance at home. They have a .625 winning percentage there and average a league best 1.39 home runs per game.

Pick: NC Dinos -1.5 (-104)