Korean Series Picks and Odds (Nov. 23): Flexen on the Dinos

• Defending champion Doosan clashes with NC in Game 5 of the Korean Series
• The best-of-7 series is tied 2-2, after the Dinos shutout the Bears 3-0 in Game 4
• Find odds and best bets for the KBO’s one-game playoff slate on November 23rd in the article below

The Korean Series is now down to a best-of-3. Regular season champ NC shutout defending champion Doosan 3-0 in Game 4, to square the series at 2.

Game 5 goes Monday, at 4:30 am EST, and will be a repeat of the Game 2 starting pitching matchup. Playoff Round MVP Chris Flexen will get the ball for the Bears, while the Dinos will counter with Chang Mo Koo.

 KBO Korean Series Odds: Game 5

Odds as of Nov. 22nd at FanDuel.

Doosan took Game 2, 5-4, building a 5-1 lead before surviving a 9th inning rally to hold on by a run.

Flexen Like a Fine Wine

Flexen has aged like a fine wine this season. He started slow, but as the season progressed he kept getting stronger and stronger. The postseason has only amplified that, as he’s yet to taste defeat in three starts.

Chris Flexen continued his stellar #KboPlayoffs runs with a 6 IP, 1 run outing against NC to even the Korean Series at 1-1. Here are some of his best swings and misses from today (slider/fastball/curveball) #KBO #KBOLeague pic.twitter.com/YCQEcl7Omf

— Ben Howell (Him/Kim) (@benhowell71) November 18, 2020

He allowed one run and five hits in Game 2, marking the ninth straight game that’s he’s surrendered two runs or less. He’s given up just four runs total over his last seven starts, and twice this season he’s held the high powered Dinos to one run or less.

Chris Flexen has had some of the most amazingly good BABIP luck you’ll see in this game. Five DP’s in six innings. Three liners including one just now off his foot that went right to the second baseman. #KBO

— Dave Cokin (@davecokin) November 18, 2020

Flexen induced five double plays in Game 2, while striking out 3, bumping his strikeout-to-walk rate to 25-6 during the playoffs. The NC bats have been relatively quiet in the Korean Series, scoring an average of 4.5 runs per outing, which is nearly two runs less than their regular season average.

Koo Passes First Playoff Test

Chang Mo Koo meanwhile, answered all the questions about his health in Game 2, throwing 6 strong innings. He gave up two earned runs and seven hits, while striking out seven Bears batters.

https://twitter.com/k__loughran/status/1328993953459343361

The start was only Koo’s second since coming back from a forearm injury, and after throwing 100 pitches we can safely put any and all injury concerns to bed.

Let’s not forget Koo was the best pitcher in the KBO during the first three months of the season before his injury. He was 9-0 when he went down, with an ERA just above 1, and a sub 0.80 WHIP.

The Bears managed just three hits in Game 4, and have now scored four or fewer runs in seven of 10 postseason games.

Back on the Under

Two of Flexen’s three playoff starts have gone under the total, and Game 2 would have as well if the Doosan bullpen hadn’t coughed up three 9th inning runs.

Going back to the regular season, the under is 6-1 in Flexen’s last seven outings, and now that we know Koo is healthy, this should be another low scoring affair.

Tough loss by Koo Chang-mo today, surrendering just 2 ER in 6+ IP while striking out 7 Doosan hitters. With 15 called strikes at 18 whiffs, he posted a 33% CSW% as his slider was electric. Went whiff, whiff, called strike vs Kim Jae-hwan for a strikeout here #KBO #KBOLeague pic.twitter.com/WFsOHJqphu

— Ben Howell (Him/Kim) (@benhowell71) November 18, 2020

Aside from Game 3, when the pitching matchup was incredibly weak, neither offense has shown much juice and have struggled mightily in tough matchups. I like that trend to continue here.

Pick: Under 7.5 (-110)