Preview: Kia Tigers at KT Wiz

SUWON-SI, South Korea (Interstat) — The KT Wiz will look to build on their first-place momentum and secure a series win when they host the .500 Kia Tigers on Wednesday evening at Suwon Baseball Stadium.

The Wiz (14-6) edged the Tigers (10-10) 6-5 in 11 innings on Tuesday, extending their strong early-season form. KT holds a comfortable lead in the standings, while Kia seeks to level both the series and its record.

A rematch on the mound is set, with KT right-hander Oh Won-seok scheduled to start. Oh earned the win in Tuesday’s contest, allowing two earned runs over 5 1/3 innings. In his last four starts, he has been effective, posting a 1.93 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 22 1/3 innings.

Kia will counter looking for more length from its starter after using eight pitchers in the marathon loss. A key figure in that bullpen, Sung Yeong-tak, has been a reliable asset. The right-handed reliever pitched two scoreless innings Tuesday and has not allowed an earned run in nine of his ten appearances this season, compiling a 1.08 ERA over 10 1/3 innings.

Weather will not be a factor, with game-time temperatures forecast near 57 degrees Fahrenheit under cloudy skies.

Despite KT’s superior record and home-field advantage, statistical projections offer a mixed outlook. Interstat’s game simulator predicts a 6-5 victory for the Tigers. However, the same service’s ELO rating system gives the Wiz a 58.3% probability to win.

Following Wednesday’s game, the teams have a quick turnaround, meeting again in Suwon on Thursday before a three-game rematch in Gwangju next weekend.