Preview: NC Dinos at Kiwoom Heroes

SEOUL, South Korea (Interstat) — The NC Dinos and Kiwoom Heroes will meet for the second straight evening Wednesday at Gocheok Sky Dome, with both clubs looking to build momentum after a tight, low-scoring series opener.

The visiting Dinos (8-11) fell 2-1 to the Heroes (6-14) on Tuesday, a game defined by strong relief pitching. NC will look to even the series behind a familiar arm: right-hander Drew Verhagen. The Dinos’ player to watch is coming off a hard-luck loss in that same ballpark just one day prior, having allowed one earned run over 5 2/3 innings with six strikeouts. In his previous start on April 14, he earned a win despite giving up four runs to the KT Wiz.

Kiwoom, which snapped a three-game skid with Tuesday’s victory, will rely again on reliever Oh Seok-joo as a key figure. The pitcher to watch for the Heroes was instrumental in the win, tossing 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball and striking out six to secure the decision. His recent outings have been a mix of length and shorter appearances, highlighting his flexible role in a bullpen that has struggled for consistency.

Both teams enter with sub-.500 records in the early KBO season. The Dinos have lost four of their last six, while the Heroes have only three wins in their last 10 contests. The series opener suggested runs may be at a premium again; NC’s last five games have all been decided by three runs or fewer.

According to Interstat, the projection models favor the Dinos. The game simulator predicts a 2-1 NC victory, while the ELO rating system gives the Dinos a 60.8% probability to win.

Following Wednesday’s contest, the two teams will conclude their three-game set on Thursday in Seoul before both embark on extended road trips. NC will visit the Hanwha Eagles for a three-game series starting Friday, while Kiwoom will host the Samsung Lions for a four-game weekend set.