AP Sports Preview: Samsung Lions at Doosan Bears

SEOUL (Interstat) — The Samsung Lions and Doosan Bears meet Thursday evening at Jamsil Stadium in a Korea Baseball Organization series finale with contrasting momentum. First pitch is scheduled under cloudy skies and 58 degrees.

Samsung (13-12-1) enters after a 4-0 loss to Doosan on Wednesday. The Lions are 3-7 in their last 10 games. Doosan (11-15) has won two of its last three and is coming off Wednesday’s shutout victory, which evened the three-game set after a 5-4 loss Tuesday.

Pitching matchup

Left-hander Jack O’Loughlin is expected to start for Samsung. In Wednesday’s loss to Doosan, O’Loughlin took the loss despite allowing three earned runs over six innings with five strikeouts. Over his last five starts, he has a 3.94 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 24⅓ innings, but the Lions have lost four of those outings.

Doosan will counter with left-hander Zach Logue, who earned the win Wednesday by tossing six scoreless innings, scattering four hits and striking out eight. Logue has been inconsistent – he allowed five earned runs in four innings against Lotte on April 23 – but has two score outings in his last five starts.

Head-to-head

The Bears took Wednesday’s game 4-0 behind Logue and a solo homer from third baseman An Jae-seok. Samsung won Tuesday’s game 5-4. Overall this season, the Lions hold a 3-1-1 edge in the season series, including a 5-5, 11-inning tie March 31.

Projections

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 4-1 Doosan win. However, the same outlet’s ELO rating gives Samsung a 55.6% probability of victory, reflecting the statistical uncertainty of the matchup.

Upcoming schedules

Samsung returns home to face Hanwha on Friday for a three-game series, then hosts Kiwoom next week. Doosan travels to face Kiwoom on Friday, followed by a series at LG.

Players to watch

O’Loughlin (1-3 with a 3.62 ERA) will look to reverse a trend of tough-luck starts. Logue (2-3, 3.86) aims to build on Wednesday’s dominant outing and give the Bears a second straight win over the Lions.