PREVIEW: Kia Tigers at Shinsegae Landers

INCHEON, South Korea (Interstat) — The Kia Tigers face the Shinsegae Landers on Friday evening at Munhak Baseball Stadium, with first pitch set under cloudy skies and 79-degree temperatures.

Kia (45-39-2) enters the game winners of its last outing, a 5-2 victory at Lotte Giants on July 9. The Tigers hold a seven-game lead over fifth-place Doosan in the standings and are pushing for a top-three finish. Right-hander Yang Hyeon-jong, who earned that win with 5.0 innings of one-run ball, starts for Kia. Yang has been steady in recent turns, including a tie against Shinsegae on July 1 in which he allowed one earned run over 5.0 innings.

Shinsegae (31-52-2) has lost four of its last six and sits in last place. The Landers were shut out 7-0 by Doosan on July 9, managing only four hits. Right-hander Choi Min-jun, who absorbed that loss with 3.0 innings and one earned run, gets the start. Choi has struggled with consistency, posting a 7.88 ERA over his last three outings.

The teams are coming off a scoreless 0-0 game on Thursday, the opener of this four-game series. The Tigers have dominated the season series, winning five of nine meetings, though two games ended in ties. Kia scored double digits in two of those wins, including a 10-3 victory on June 30.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 3-1 Kia win, and its ELO system gives the Tigers a 57.7% probability of victory.

Kia will send a lineup that includes Harold Castro, who homered and drove in a run in the July 9 win, and Na Sung-bum, who also homered. Yang will look to keep the Landers off balance early.

Shinsegae will lean on relievers Seo Jin-yong and Han Doo-sol, who combined for two scoreless innings in the loss to Doosan.

After Friday, the teams play two more games here Saturday and Sunday before the Tigers host Hanwha for three games starting Tuesday. The Landers travel to Lotte for a three-game set beginning Tuesday.