Upcoming Match-ups

Korean Series Picks and Odds (Nov. 17): A Clash of Titans

Chris Amberley

by Chris Amberley in News

Updated Mar 3, 2021 · 12:28 PM PST

An NC Dinos hitter swinging the bat
Photo by 노무진, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons.
  • Defending champion Doosan clashes with NC in Game 1 of the Korean Series
  • Raul Alcantara (20-2, 2.63 ERA) will start for the Bears, while the Dinos will counter with Drew Rucinski (19-5, 3.05 ERA)
  • Find odds and best bets for the KBO’s one-game playoff slate on November 17th in the article below

The Korean Series is finally here, which marks the return of the NC Dinos into our lives. NC earned a bye to the KBO’s championship round by winning the regular season crown, while Doosan had to dispatch both LG and KT Wiz in order to earn a chance to defend its title.

Game 1 goes Tuesday, at 4:30 am EST, and features a heavyweight starting pitching matchup. 20-game winner Raul Alcantara will toe the rubber for the Bears, while the Dinos will counter with 19-game winner Drew Rucinski.

 KBO Korean Series Odds: Game 1

Team Moneyline Runline Over/Under Run Total Game Time (Eastern)
Doosan Bears -114 -1.5 (+150) Over 7.5 (-122) 4:30 a.m.
NC Dinos -108 +1.5 (-192) Under 7.5 (-104)

Odds as of Nov. 16th at FanDuel.

NC took the season series 9-7, but were winless versus Alcantara in four meetings.

Alcantara Looks to Bounce Back

Despite winning the KBO’s top pitching award, Alcantara has actually struggled (by his terms) over his first two playoff starts. In the Semi-Playoff versus LG, he surrendered four runs, six hits and three homers in just 4.1 innings, and then last time out in the Playoff round against KT Wiz, he allowed three runs and seven hits in a losing effort.

Prior to those outings, he hadn’t given up more than two runs in over a month, and the loss versus the Suwon was his first since August 26th.

He was 2-0 versus the top ranked Dinos in four starts, limiting the league’s highest scoring team to two runs or less in three of those games.

 Alcantara vs NC in 2020

Dec IP R H SO
W 6.0 2 4 2
ND 7.0 2 5 6
ND 7.1 3 6 5
W 7.0 1 6 4

NC meanwhile, hasn’t played since Halloween, but tore the cover off the ball over the final two months the season, averaging 5.9 runs per game.

Rucinski Well Rested or Rusty?

The Dinos Drew Rucinski will make his first start since shutting out Lotte back on October 29th. The right-hander, who finished runner-up to Alcantara in wins, ranked top-five in ERA, innings pitched, strikeouts and quality starts.

He was up and down versus the Bears this season, shutting them out once, but surrendering a combined seven runs over his other two outings against them. Rucinski struggled in two of his final six outings, but I’m willing to bet he’ll come out sharp given the extra rest he’s received.

Doosan boasted the second highest scoring offense in the league during the regular season, but has relied heavily on pitching in the postseason. The Bears are averaging only 4.0 runs per game thus far, a stat heavily inflated by a nine run performance in Game 2 of the Semi-Playoff.

Expect a Low Scoring Affair

After seeing the starting pitching matchup I wouldn’t have been shocked to see this game open lower than it did. Yes, these are the two highest scoring teams in the league, but playoff games have been flying under the total so far.

Just one of the seven postseason contests has produced a total north of 7, while five others have come in under 6. With two of the KBO’s premier pitchers on the mound, I’m betting on that trend continuing for at least one more game.

Pick: Under 7.5 (-104)

Author Image