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KBO Picks & Odds (July 23): Lions and Dinos Keep it Low Scoring

Chris Amberley

by Chris Amberley in News

Updated Mar 5, 2021 · 9:38 AM PST

An NC Dinos hitter swinging the bat
Photo by 노무진, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons.
  • NC’s Drew Rucinski has won five straight starts, allowing just five runs total
  • Lotte’s Won Sam Jang is 0-2 with a 8.38 ERA and 1.71 WHIP this season
  • Find odds and best bets for the KBO’s five-game slate on July 23rd in the article below

Four of the five games on Wednesday’s KBO slate were wiped out due to rain, with only KIA and Hanwha actually playing ball. That means Thursday’s pitching matchups look a lot like Wedensday’s, with Samsung and NC being the most enticing.

NC will send Drew Rucinski to the mound at 5:30 am EST, where he’ll be looking to join Doosan’s Raul Alcantara as the KBO’s only 10-game winners.

 KBO Odds: Thursday, July 23rd

Team Moneyline Runline Over/Under Run Total Game Time (Eastern)
Kiwoom Heroes +105 +1.5 (-160) Over 10.5 (-115) 5:30 a.m.
Doosan Bears -135 -1.5 (+130) Under 10.5 (-115)
Team Moneyline Runline Over/Under Run Total Game Time (Eastern)
KIA Tigers -260 -1.5 (-160) Over 8.5 (-120) 5:30 a.m.
Hanwha Eagles +200 +1.5 (+130) Under 8.5 (-110)
Team Moneyline Runline Over/Under Run Total Game Time (Eastern)
LG Twins +135 +1.5 (-145) Over 10.5 (-120) 5:30 a.m.
KT Wiz Suwon -165 -1.5 (+115) Under 10.5 (-110)
Team Moneyline Runline Over/Under Run Total Game Time (Eastern)
Samsung Lions +200 +1.5 (+130) Over 9.5 (-105) 5:30 a.m.
NC Dinos -260 -1.5 (-160) Under 9.5 (-125)
Team Moneyline Runline Over/Under Run Total Game Time (Eastern)
Lotte Giants +115 +1.5 (-155) Over 10.5 (-110) 5:30 a.m.
SK Wyverns -145 -1.5 (+125) Under 10.5 (-120)

Odds as of July 22nd.

Rucinski is a Rock

Rucinski has won five straight starts, allowing just five runs total. He’s 9-1 overall, and now ranks inside the top-three in wins, quality starts, ERA and WHIP.

He’s recorded a quality start in 11 straight outings, and has limited the opposition to a single run or less in six of those starts. Last time he faced Samsung he held them to two runs over seven innings, while striking out seven.

Won vs Rucinski Statistics

Won
VS
Rucinski
5-2 Record 9-1
3.12 ERA 2.05
1.37 WHIP 1.08
40 Strikeouts 73
25 Walks 24
6 Quality Starts 12

The Lions will counter with Tae In Won, who’s had a pretty impressive season of his own. Won has surrendered two runs or fewer in nine of 12 starts this season, and has allowed just six runs over his last three outings. He’s yet to start against the potent NC offense this season, but he did recently hold KT Wiz, the KBO’s third highest scoring team, scoreless over six innings.

Pick: Under 9.5 (-125)

Jang Has Been a Giant Disaster

It’s hard to find a pitcher that’s performed worse than Lotte’s Won Sam Jang this season. The right-hander has allowed 21 runs in four starts this season, recording just seven strikeouts in over 19 innings of work. It’s actually amazing he’s still being trotted out there because his poor performance is nothing new. The 15-year veteran hasn’t had a season with an ERA below 5.61 since 2014 and he lasted just over four innings in his last outing.

YouTube video

Thursday’s opponent SK isn’t exactly an offensive juggernaut, but they’ve been hitting much better recently. Two nights ago they put up eight runs and twice last week they crossed the plate 12 times in a game.

Light-hitting LG and bottom-feeder Hanwha has touched up Jang recently, which should give us confidence that the Wyverns can do the same.

Pick: SK Wyverns moneyline (-145)

Brooks Will Baffle Eagles

The Eagles losing streak is now at six after Wednesday’s defeat, and Thursday’s outlook looks very bleak for them. They’ve scored just seven runs in their last six games and now will have to face one of the league’s hottest pitchers.

Aaron Brooks is fresh off back-to-back wins over second place Doosan and third place Kiwoom, and held first place NC to just one run over seven innings in the start before that. He’s given up more than three runs in just one start this season, and leads the KBO in hard hit rate allowed.

Hanwha meanwhile will give the ball to Chad Bell who’s been a complete gas can in 2020. He’s lost each of his last six starts and his ERA has ballooned to 7.96.

Pick: KIA Tigers -1.5 (-160)

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