KBO Picks & Odds (May 24): First-Place Dinos Search For Offense As Moneyline Favorites Vs. Eagles

• Sunday’s five-game slate is highlighted by the high-scoring Doosan Bears, looking to move into sole possession of second place in the league
• The KIA Tigers are searching for a sixth-straight win, and a sweep against the lowly SK Wyverns
• Find odds and best bets for all the Korea Baseball Organization action on May 24th in the article below

What’s going on with the league-leading NC Dinos these days? The KBO’s finest erupted for nine ninth-inning runs to overcome a late deficit against the Doosan Bears on Thursday — but have since followed with a total of six runs over the past two games against the middling Hanwha Eagles.

The Dinos were shocking moneyline losers against the Eagles on Friday, before rebounding for a 3-0 win on Saturday. Can they pull out a series win and get the offense back on track in the process?

Here’s a look at the entire slate of KBO games for Sunday, May 24th. All games start at 1am ET (10pm PT on Saturday).

KBO Odds: Sunday, May 24

Odds taken May 23.

Will Lightning Strike Twice?

Despite splitting the first two games of their series with Hanwha, NC finds itself as hefty moneyline favorites for the rubber match. Why? Because oddsmakers don’t anticipate that lightning will strike twice.

In its loss to the Eagles, the Dinos registered only six hits. They also ran into a tough matchup against pitcher Warwick Saupold (2-1, 2.25 ERA), who held the Dinos largely in check.

On Sunday, Hanwha rolls with Shi-hwan Jang (1-2, 7.21 ERA), who is coming off an outing in which he allowed seven runs in three innings to the KIA Tigers. The Dinos will start Mike Wright (2-0, 1.69 ERA), who has allowed only one run in his past 11 innings.

Former East Carolina Baseball (@ECUBaseball) RHP Michael Wright (@Mikewright_Os) has found a home in the KBO with the NC Dino's.

Through 3 starts Wright is posting a 1.69 ERA and a 2-0 record.

Mike took the time (13-hour difference) to talk with me this week. Check it out 👇 pic.twitter.com/L00r1R9s3a

— Nolan Knight (@NolanKnightJr) May 23, 2020

The contrast in pitchers makes this over/under a bit dicey to predict. But have faith in the Dinos to take this one on the run line.

Pick: NC Dinos, -1.5 (-135)

Keep Rolling With KIA

The Tigers got off to a sluggish start this year (including a 14-2 loss to the lowly Samsung Lions), and yet here they are now as the hottest team in the KBO.

They also happen to be facing the league’s coldest team, the SK Wyverns (2-14), and are one win away from securing a second consecutive sweep.

KIA, with only a plus-six run differential this year, has had to scrap and claw to reach the 10-7 mark. But there should be no problems in emerging victorious against the Wyverns, who are allowing 6.5 runs per game (second worst in KBO).

Pick: KIA Tigers (-125)

Bears are The Best Show

If you want to watch a team that scores and allows runs at an alarming clip, look no further than the Doosan Bears. Somehow, they are scoring (7.25 runs/game) and allowing (6.8 runs/game) the most runs in the league — and have arrived at a 10-6 record as a result.

What we’re saying is, games involving this team deserve serious consideration of the over. Their run totals have exceeded 15 in each of their past three games, which far exceeds any run totals set in the KBO so far this season.

Jose Miguel Fernandez with HR #3 of the season. #KBO #DoosanBears pic.twitter.com/ZaNCAYDCPv

— KBO Collections (@kbocollections) May 22, 2020

Oh, and they’ve outscored the Samsung Lions 22-13 this series. So make sure you pick the Bears to sweep, too.

Pick: Doosan Bears, -1.5 (-130), Over 11.5 (-105)