Preview: Kiwoom Heroes at Kia Tigers

GWANGJU, South Korea (Interstat) — The struggling Kiwoom Heroes look to snap a two-game skid against the host Kia Tigers as the teams conclude a three-game series Thursday evening at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. local time under clear skies with a game-time temperature near 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Tigers (8-7) have taken the first two games of the set, winning 6-2 on Tuesday and 7-5 on Wednesday, extending their current win streak to five games. The Heroes (4-11) have lost four of their last five and own the poorest record in the Korea Baseball Organization.

A key matchup will feature Kiwoom reliever Oh Seok-joo, who has been a bright spot, against Kia’s hot-hitting Kim Do-yeong. Oh has not allowed an earned run in his last four appearances, spanning six innings, including two scoreless frames against the Tigers on Wednesday.

Kim, however, has been a force for Kia. The third baseman is 4 for 7 with two home runs and six RBIs in the first two games of this series. Over his last seven games, Kim has four homers and 10 RBIs, powering the Tigers’ climb above .500.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 5-2 victory for Kia, with its ELO rating system giving the Tigers a 67.3% probability to win.

After Thursday’s game, Kiwoom travels to Suwon for a three-game weekend series against the KT Wiz beginning Friday. Kia heads to Seoul for a three-game series against the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Stadium starting Friday.