Hot Landers Visit Struggling Giants in Busan Showdown

BUSAN, South Korea (Interstat) — The surging Shinsegae Landers, winners of four of their first five, visit the slumping Lotte Giants to open a three-game series Friday evening at Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. under clear skies with temperatures around 59 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Landers (4-1) arrive riding high after an 11-1 rout of the Kiwoom Heroes on Thursday, powered by home runs from Choi Ji-hoon and Choi Jeong. The Giants (2-3), meanwhile, look to halt a three-game skid after dropping an 8-4 decision to the NC Dinos.

A key matchup features Shinsegae’s Choi Min-jun, coming off a dominant five-inning, one-hit, five-strikeout performance, against Lotte’s Kim Jin-uk, who allowed three earned runs over 4 2/3 innings in his last start.

Shinsegae’s offense has been potent, averaging 8.0 runs per game in their four victories. Lotte’s pitching staff will be tested after allowing 22 runs during their current losing streak.

Despite the records, Lotte has been installed as a slight pregame favorite with a spread of +1.5. The over/under is set at 9.5 runs. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 5-3 Landers victory, giving Shinsegae a 53.9% probability to win.

The series continues Saturday and Sunday in Busan before both clubs embark on new series next week.