LG at Doosan
SEOUL, South Korea (Interstat) — The LG Twins will try to bounce back when they face the Doosan Bears on Saturday evening at Jamsil Stadium, where a rain shower is possible with temperatures near 87 degrees at game time.
LG enters with a 55-43-2 record, one of the top marks in the KBO. Doosan sits at 51-45-1. The Bears won Friday’s series opener 4-2 at home, with Zach Logue earning the win after allowing one earned run over six innings while striking out eight. Kim Dae-han homered twice and drove in two runs for Doosan, and Park Jun-soon added a two-run homer. Song Seung-ki took the loss for LG, giving up three earned runs in five innings.
Saturday’s game features several players to watch, including those two pitchers from Friday’s opener. Song has pitched into the fifth inning in each of his last three starts, though he struggled at Hanwha on July 25, allowing five earned runs in 1 2/3 innings. He rebounded somewhat Friday, and the Twins will need a deeper outing from him if the rain holds off long enough for a normal start.
Logue has been steady for Doosan. He threw six innings in a loss to Samsung on July 25, allowed four earned runs, and before that pitched five scoreless innings against Shinsegae on July 9. Friday’s eight-strikeout performance matched his season’s sharpest work and helped Doosan open the series on a positive note.
The Bears have won the past two meetings between these teams, but LG has owned the season series, winning seven of 10. The Twins swept all three games in Seoul from June 19-21, outscoring Doosan 16-7. Friday’s result flipped recent momentum in Doosan’s favor heading into the weekend.
The forecast calls for rain, which could affect conditions for both starting staffs and the outfield at Jamsil. The game is scheduled for the evening, and the teams will turn around and play again Sunday afternoon at the same ballpark.
Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Doosan 4, LG 3. However, Interstat’s ELO model gives LG a 54.30 percent probability to win, suggesting a close game regardless of the simulator’s projected result.
Both teams are coming off active stretches. LG lost Friday but won Thursday’s game against Kiwoom, then was blown out Wednesday and played to a scoreless tie Tuesday. Doosan won Thursday at Shinsegae, lost Wednesday, and won Tuesday in extra innings.
Saturday’s matchup is expected to be another tight one. With rain possible and both teams still fighting for position in the standings, the Bears will look to build on Friday’s win, while the Twins will try to reclaim control of the season series. First pitch is set for evening local time.