Korean Series Picks and Odds (Nov. 21): A Must Win for NC in Game 4
- Defending champion Doosan clashes with NC in Game 4 of the Korean Series
- The Bears lead the best-of-7 series 2-1, after winning 7-6 in Game 3 on Friday
- Find odds and best bets for the KBO’s one-game playoff slate on November 21st in the article below
Doosan is now one step closer to defending its KBO title, after downing NC 7-6 on Friday, in Game 3 of the Korean Series. The Bears now lead the best-of-7 series 2-1, with Game 4 scheduled for Saturday, at 12:00 am EST.
KBO Korean Series Odds: Game 4
| Team | Moneyline | Runline | Over/Under Run Total | Game Time (Eastern) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NC Dinos | -122 | -1.5 (+124) | Over 10.5 (-106) | 12:00 a.m. |
| Doosan Bears | +100 | +1.5 (-158) | Under 10.5 (-118) |
Odds as of Nov. 20th at FanDuel.
As predicted, both of Friday’s starters struggled badly, with neither Mike Wright or Won Joon Choi making it out of the 3rd inning.
Both teams will trot out one of their younger arms in Game 4, as Myung Gi Song will take the ball for the Dinos, while the defending champs will counter with Min Gyu Kim.
How Far Can Doosan Stretch Kim?
Kim has arguably been Doosan’s best reliever this postseason, holding the opposition scoreless in three appearances. He earned a hold and a victory in the Playoff round versus KT Wiz, and then recorded a save in Game 2 of this series, extinguishing a furious 9th inning NC rally.
Kim saved the Bears from falling into an 0-2 series hole, something only two KBO squads have ever overcome in the Korean Series. Now up 2-1, Doosan will look to the 21-year-old to help give them a commanding 3-1 lead.
The problem is, Kim is not accustom to starting games. He’s made just four starts all season, failing to make it past the 4th inning in half of those outings. Asking him to shut down one of the league’s most prolific offenses of all-time on the biggest stage in the game seems like an awfully tall task.
To make matters worse, the Bears needed their bullpen for 6+ innings in Game 3, and if Kim delivers another short outing, they could be forced to rely on some weaker arms.
Song Sensational Down the Stretch
Myung Gi Song meanwhile, was absolutely brilliant down the stretch this season, winning each of his final six decisions. The 20-year-old allowed two or fewer runs in five of those outings, and fared quite well against Doosan in four appearances.
Song Myung-gi showed promise against Doosan today. Sinker sits 89-90, SL/CH around 83-84 and both showed promise. At just 20 yrs old, could be a name to watch in the future for the NC Dinos. Here's his sinker for a called strike, slider for a whiff + overlay #KBO #KBOLeague pic.twitter.com/9Kpm5ayo0p
— Ben Howell (he/him) (@benhowell71) August 27, 2020
The right-hander was 1-0, with a 4.70 ERA versus the Bears, winning his lone start against them on August 27th. Doosan’s offense exploded for a series-high seven runs on Friday, with Jose Miguel Fernandez smacking a home run for the second consecutive game.
Jose Miguel Fernandez goes yard and the #DoosanBears tie it up 1-1!! pic.twitter.com/jTkVANjX7c
— Greg Peterson (@GUnit_81) November 20, 2020
If there’s one area of concern for Song it’s his propensity to give up the long ball, as he allowed at least one home run in all but one of his last seven starts.
The Verdict
With their season virtually on the line, I expect the Dinos to rally in Game 4. They’ll have one of their best young arms on the mound, and could get plenty of opportunities against a tired Bears bullpen if Kim produced a short outing.
At -122 on the moneyline, the price is certainly favorable and is one that probably won’t last. If you like NC act now, because this number is bound to get shorter.
Pick: NC Dinos moneyline (-122)
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
