KBO Picks & Odds (August 26): Dinos Feast on Eagles

• NC is 9-3 versus Hanwha this season, winning each game by at least two runs
• Doosan’s Raul Alcantara is 1-0, with a 1.29 ERA against KIA in 2020
• Find odds and best bets for the KBO’s five-game slate on August 26th in the article below

The NC Dinos were desperate for a victory on Tuesday and got it, blowing out the Hanwha Eagles 11-3. The win improved NC to 9-3 versus Hanwha this season, but unfortunately it didn’t give them any breathing room atop the KBO standings.

NC rout Hanwha 11-3 to remain on top ✅#NCDinos | #KBO pic.twitter.com/qijZjoRVj7

— taewoongi (태웅) (@taewoongii) August 25, 2020

The Dinos are still clinging to a half-game lead over Kiwoom, and will look to complete the two-game sweep of the Eagles on Wednesday at 5:30 am EST.

 KBO Odds: Wednesday, August 26th

Odds as of Aug. 25th.

Not surprisingly, NC is a massive home favorite versus Hawha, but their runline isn’t as juiced as you might expect. Despite each of their nine wins against the Eagles this season being by at least two runs, the Dinos -1.5 is only priced at -144.

Dinos Will Deliver Again

NC hasn’t just beaten up on Hanwha this season, they’ve embarrassed them. They’ve outscored them by 46 runs in 12 games, and are 5-2 versus them at home. On Wednesday, they’ll give the ball to Mike Wright, who’s beaten the Eagles twice in 2020, allowing four runs in 12 innings, while striking out 11.

Mike Wright had it all working today for the NC Dinos in their 13-2 win.

Wright's final line: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 7 K, 4 BB

All 7 Ks for the former Orioles starter:#KBO #NCDinos @taewoongii @NCDinosUK pic.twitter.com/SDEccUXeAU

— Connor Newcomb (@ConnorNewcomb_) June 5, 2020

Wright is coming off one of his best outings of the season, tossing 6 innings of two-hit ball against KIA. Hanwha meanwhile, averages a league worst 3.85 runs on the road, and have a -103 run differential away from home. Yikes.

The Eagles will counter with Shi Hwan Jang, who’s 3-8 this season with a 4.28 ERA. He’s faced the Dinos twice, getting hit hard in both outings. He’s surrendered eight runs in 8 innings against them, and failed to make it out of the 4th in their last meeting.

Pick: NC Dinos -1.5 (-144)

Bears Beat Up on Gagnon

One of the teams hot on NC’s heels is defending champion Doosan. The Bears put up 10 runs on Tuesday in a win over KIA, marking the third straight game they’ve crossed the plate at least eight times.

[경기결과] KIA 8 : 10 두산

– 승리투수: 윤명준
– 홀드: 이현승, 박치국
– 홈런: 최주환 (11호, 2회 1점), 김인태 (1호, 6회 3점), 김재환 (18호, 7회 2점)
– 팀 4연승 및 3,600홈런 기록 달성 (KBO 통산 네 번째)
– 김인태, 대타 홈런: 시즌 22호, 통산 925호, 개인 2호#doosanbears pic.twitter.com/eVKMkjrP8D

— 두산베어스 Doosan Bears (@doosanbears1982) August 25, 2020

The offense should have no problem generating more scoring on Wednesday, as they’ll square off against a struggling Drew Gagnon. The Tigers hurler was roughed up again last time out, marking the third time in four starts he’s allowed at least six runs. He surrendered 13 hits over just 5 innings in the loss, and has been battling command issues all month. He’s walked 14 batters in his last four outings, which is just one less than he’s struck out.

Today's #KBO K leader was Raul Alcántara of the Doosan Bears:

7 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 8 K, 0 BB

Check out his 3 Ks to Roberto Ramos. pic.twitter.com/W04xAUbFbO

— Alex Fast (@AlexFast8) July 9, 2020

Doosan will counter with Raul Alcantara, who will make his sixth attempt at joining the 11-win club. He’s given up three or fewer runs in 13 straight starts, and was brilliant in his only outing versus KIA this season. That day, he held the Tigers to only one run on five hits, while punching out nine.

Pick: Doosan Bears -1.5 (+100)