Sunday’s KBO matchup at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field

Gwangju, South Korea (Interstat) — The first-place KT Wiz (20-10) visit the Kia Tigers (14-15-1) on Sunday, May 3, in a day-night doubleheader at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field. First pitch for the afternoon game is set for 2 p.m., with the evening game to follow. The forecast calls for 70-degree temperatures and cloudy skies.

KT enters with the league’s best record, winning four of its last five contests. The Wiz took the series opener Friday 4-3 before falling 6-0 on Saturday. Kia snapped a two-game skid with Saturday’s shutout, a game in which right-hander Hwang Dong-ha tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out eight.

Hwang (projected starter for Sunday’s first game) is a player to watch. The Kia righty has allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of his last five appearances, including Saturday’s dominant outing. On the season, Hwang has been sharp, posting a 2.70 ERA over his last three starts.

For KT, reliever Ju Kwon is a key bullpen arm. He worked 1.1 innings Saturday, allowing one earned run on one hit. In his prior six outings spanning 8.0 innings, Kwon had allowed two earned runs while striking out three. He has been effective overall, with a 1.88 ERA across his last seven appearances.

The Wiz own a 3-2 edge in the season series after Saturday’s loss. KT took both games of a two-game set April 22-23 by identical 8-3 scores and also won an 11-inning thriller 6-5 on April 21.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 6-2 KT victory Sunday, with the Wiz holding a 52.6% win probability per the ELO system.

KT opens a three-game home series Tuesday against the Lotte Giants. Kia hosts the Hanwha Eagles for a three-game set starting Tuesday.