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KBO Tuesday betting preview: A hitting showcase in Gwangju

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KBO standings | KBO team stats

Tuesday might feel a bit like groundhog day in the KBO as four of the five pitching matchups are rematches from earlier in the season.

This gives us plenty of data to dive into as we cap the series openers.

(Odds source: theScore Bet)

ESPN game: Lotte Giants (+130) @ Kia Tigers (-160)

In a rematch of the May 21 game between these teams at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field, Park Se-woong is once again slated to start for the Giants against Im Ki-yong and the Tigers.

In the previous encounter, the Giants got out to a 1-0 first-inning lead off a pair of hits, but Im closed the door from there. That would be the only run the Kia starter allowed across eight innings, surrendering just three more hits while striking out four and walking none. Park wasn’t able to keep Lotte in the game as he was tagged for six hits and three walks, allowing five runs over four innings.

We have every reason to expect Park to struggle again on Tuesday, given his rough start to the season. He's been generously hit in all four of his outings, while pitching especially poorly in his two road starts, allowing eight runs on 12 hits and five walks over just 8 2/3 innings.

But should we expect the same sort of success from Im, who allowed just one run in eight innings of work in the previous meeting? That was by far his best start of the season as he's failed to pitch beyond five innings in each of the other three, posting a WHIP of 1.38 or higher in each of them. Regression certainly looms for the starter, who's been aided by a high strand rate this season.

Lotte should have a much better idea of what to expect from Im, seeing him for a second time in a little over a week. I don't anticipate another eight-inning gem from the 27-year-old. The Giants should have the bats going a bit here, and they will need them to have any chance at winning this game with Park on the mound.

Pick: Over 9 (-115)

Other picks:

  • KT Wiz first five innings (play up to -140)
  • NC Dinos -1.5 (-120)
  • Hanwha Eagles (+145)

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

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