KBO Picks & Odds (September 8): Nobody Beats the Wiz

• KT Wiz enters play vs Doosan riding a 6-game winning streak
• SK’s Ricardo Pinto has lost eight straight decisions 
• Find odds and best bets for the KBO’s five-game slate on September 8th in the article below

Six weeks remain in the KBO season and the race for top spot is heating up. Four teams are within 4 games of first place NC, including red-hot KT Wiz.

the Wiz are on fire and it has been a blast to watch! the offense is elite but the pitching has been so much better, I really like their postseason chances now 👀

also:

#️⃣3️⃣6️⃣ today for Mel Rojas Jr. in an empty Gocheok Sky Dome was 💥💥💥 (via @MyKBO) pic.twitter.com/srKWWziAZN https://t.co/XNyTpwRR6B

— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) September 5, 2020

The Suwon enter play riding a six-game winning streak and will look to continue their impressive play Tuesday versus Doosan at 5:30 am EST.

 KBO Odds: Tuesday, September 8th

Odds as of Sept. 7th.

However, its the defending champs, not KT Wiz, that’s a big favorite. The Bears opened up at -220 on the moneyline in large part due to a perceived massive advantage in the starting pitching department.

KT Wiz Has Fared Well vs Alcantara

Doosan will send ace Raul Alcantara to the mound, who’s fresh off a dominant outing. The 27-year-old scattered two hits over 7 shutout innings last time out versus Hanwha, striking out 9 Eagles along the way. He’s 11-2 this season and ranks top-four in wins, quality starts, ERA, WHIP and strikeouts.

Doosan Bears Raul Alcantara
98 miles of fastball strike out!!!!#KBO #ESPN #Doosan #Bears pic.twitter.com/pRjzjGPPTv

— 장진혁/KBO and Baseball Analyst/Jang Jin-Hyeok (@J_J_Hyeok92) May 29, 2020

Alcantara has lost just once since Opening Day, and while it may seem like KT Wiz will be overmatched, they’ve actually fared quite well against him this season. The Suwon have scored eight runs in 11 innings versus Alcantara, smacking 13 hits along the way. In their last meeting, KT Wiz emerged as 5-3 winners and their offense lately has been unstoppable.

KT's @melrojasjr with his 34th home run of the season to help the Wiz jump out to an early 3-0 lead pic.twitter.com/8y66nXL6Zw

— Dan Kurtz (@MyKBO) September 4, 2020

They’ve scored 50 runs over their past six games, winning all but one of those contests by at least four runs. They’ll give the ball to Je Seong Bae, who’s yet to face the Bears this season, but has surrendered two or less runs in two of his past three starts.

Pick: KT Wiz Suwon moneyline (+176), +1.5 (-118)

Pinto Has Been Putrid

If somebody has a good explanation for why Ricardo Pinto still has a starting spot in the SK rotation I’d love to hear it. The 26-year-old has lost eight straight decisions and has allowed at least six runs in five of his past seven starts. Five days ago he was rocked by KT Wiz for six runs in just 5 innings, and in his previous start he gave up three home runs in an 11-8 loss to KIA.

Ricardo Pinto Last 5 Starts

His 6.57 ERA is one of the worst in the KBO among starters, and he’s been crushed by Tuesday’s opponent Kiwoom both times he’s faced them. In 8.1 innings against the Heroes this season, Pinto has surrendered 13 runs and 15 hits. Kiwoom has been struggling lately, but a date with Pinto should fix that in a hurry.

The Heroes meanwhile, will trot out Jae Woong Kim for just his fifth start of 2020. The 21-year-old has spent most of this season as a reliever, and has held the opposition scoreless in his last 19.1 innings out of the bullpen. He didn’t fare too well in his last start versus NC, but prior to that he shutout KT Wiz over 3 innings as an opener.

Pick: Kiwoom Heroes moneyline (-128)