GAME PREVIEW

GWANGJU, South Korea (Interstat) — The LG Twins visit the Kia Tigers on Tuesday evening at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field, with the first-place Twins seeking to extend their dominance over their division rivals. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. local time under cloudy skies and 75 degrees.

LG (41-24) enters with the best record in the Korea Baseball Organization, riding a 5-1 mark over its last six games. The Twins have won five consecutive meetings against Kia, including a three-game sweep in Seoul from May 29-31. The most recent head-to-head saw LG win 5-3 on May 31.

Right-hander Im Chan-kyu (7-1) is scheduled to start for LG. The 33-year-old has been dominant in his last four outings, all victories, with a 0.75 ERA over 24 innings. He pitched seven innings of one-run ball in a 6-1 win over the Lotte Giants on Sunday, striking out two. Im also defeated Kia on May 19, allowing one run in five innings.

Kia (34-31-1) counters with left-hander Kim Tae-hyeong (4-4). Kim allowed three runs over five innings in an 8-1 loss to Doosan on Sunday. However, he threw six innings of no-hit ball with six strikeouts against Kiwoom on May 26, earning a 5-2 win. He has been inconsistent since, allowing two earned runs in one-third of an inning in a June 9 appearance.

The Tigers took two of three from Doosan over the weekend but have lost four of their last six overall. Kia was swept by LG on May 29-31, losing 5-3, 3-1 and 12-2. The Tigers’ lone win in the season series came May 19, a 14-0 blowout.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 6-4 LG victory, and the Twins enter as a -1.5 favorite. The over/under is 9.5.

The teams continue the three-game series Wednesday and Thursday before LG returns home for a six-game homestand against Doosan and Samsung. Kia travels to face KT Wiz on Friday.

Scouting Report: LG’s Im has allowed just two earned runs over his last 24 innings, with 13 strikeouts. He has not lost since April 19. Kia’s Kim has a 6.23 ERA over his last two starts but showed no-hit stuff in late May. The Twins have outscored the Tigers 30-13 over the last five meetings.