GWANGJU, South Korea (Interstat) — The Kia Tigers host the Kiwoom Heroes in a Korean Baseball Organization matchup at 7 p.m. Friday at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field.

First-place Kia (49-42-3) enters having lost its most recent game, a 9-3 defeat Thursday to the Hanwha Eagles, but owns a commanding 33-43-2 season mark. The Tigers have dominated the season series, winning all nine head-to-head meetings this season, including a three-game sweep of the Heroes in Gwangju from April 14-16.

Kiwoom (33-59-2) has lost three of its last four games, including an 11-inning, 3-1 loss Thursday to the Samsung Lions. The Heroes remain in last place in the league’s 10-team standings.

Right-hander Ha Yeong-min (recent performances: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 6 K vs. Samsung on Thursday; 6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 4 K vs. Doosan on July 3) is a player to watch for Kiwoom. In his last outing, he threw seven shutout innings but received a no-decision.

Infielder/outfielder Harold Castro is a key batter for Kia. Castro went 2 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs in Thursday’s loss to Hanwha. Over his last 10 games, he has four home runs and nine RBIs.

The weather forecast calls for 82-degree temperatures with clouds at game time.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 4-3 Kia victory, and the Interstat ELO system gives the Tigers a 69.40 percent probability to win.

The series continues Saturday and Sunday at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field.