KBO underdogs continued to stem the chalky tide with another 3-2 day on Wednesday, as the LG Twins (24-13) pulled back within two games of the NC Dinos (26-11) for a share of the KBO lead.

The Twins handed the Hanwha Eagles (9-29) their 20th loss in their past 22 contests, while the Dinos and Doosan Bears (21-16) lost to the KIA Tigers (21-17) and Samsung Lions (19-19), respectively, for the second consecutive day — putting seven of the ten KBO clubs at .500 or better for the year.

Besides the Eagles, the only two KBO clubs currently under .500 are the KT Wiz (15-22) and SK Wyverns (12-25), who finish up a three-game series on Thursday, following a pair of come-from-behind wins by the Wiz on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Probable Pitchers: KT Wiz (Odisraimer Despaigne) vs. SK Wyverns (Jong-hoon Park)

The Wiz and Wyverns have blown a combined five saves over the past two days, with the Wiz taking a pair of ten-inning contests by scores of 6-5 and 6-4, after Wyverns closer, Jae-hoon Ha, blew a couple of one-run, ninth-inning leads.

Ha, a former minor-league outfielder for the Chicago Cubs, was arguably the best relief pitcher in the KBO last season — posting a 1.98 ERA and 2.78 FIP with 36 saves in 37 attempts and a 64:26 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 69 innings pitched. He has already blown five saves in 2020.

FIP or Fielding Independent Pitching measures what a pitcher’s ERA would look like if the pitcher experienced league-average defense and luck.

wRC+ or Weighted Runs Created Plus takes the statistic Runs Created and adjusts that number to account for critical external factors — like ballpark or era. It’s adjusted, so a wRC+ of 100 is league average, and 150 would be 50 percent above league average.

The Wiz, unquestionably, have the worst bullpen in the KBO, with a FIP north of 6.00 on the season for their relief staff; but this team can slug it out with the best (108 wRC+), and I expect to see more games, like Tuesday’s incredible contest, throughout their 2020 campaign

On Thursday, Odisraimer Despaigne (3.55 FIP) will hope to get back on track for the Wiz after allowing 18 runs over his past three starts, and 18 innings pitched.

His strikeout ability (7.5 K/9) and command (4.25 K/BB) has improved substantially compared to his MLB averages (5.6 K/9, 1.72 K/BB), with three above-average fastballs (four-seamer, cutter, two-seamer) and a pair of breaking balls to mix in against lesser competition:

The Wiz offense features the KBO’s leader in hard-hit rate, Mel Rojas (35.6%), and my personal favorite KBO player, Baek-ho Kang, who launched a pinch-hit, game-tying bomb on Wednesday
Wyverns’ submariner Jong-hoon Park has compiled a 4.05 FIP over seven starts in 2020, with at least six or more strikeouts (9.5 K/9), in five appearances.

The 28-year-old righty is in the midst of a breakout season, after posting a 4.55 FIP in 2019, and a 4.80 FIP in 2018. And with his unique delivery, Park is also one of the most unintentionally entertaining athletes on the planet

Wiz @ Wyverns
KT Wiz (15-22):
Despaigne is 0-3, 10.80 in his last three starts; he is 0-2, 5.32 in four road starts.
Teams’ record in his starts: 2-6 Team in first 5 innings: 4-3-1
Allowed run in first inning: 3-8 Totals: under 3-1 last four

— Wiz lost 12 of their last 18 games.
— KT’s bullpen is 2-10 this season.
— Wiz lost 8 of their 12 road games.
— Under is 5-2-1 in their last eight road games.
— KT is 4-8 in series finales, 1-5 on road.

SK Wyverns (12-25):
JHPark is 2-1, 4.32 in his last four starts; he is 2-1, 3.91 in four home starts.
Teams’ record in his starts: 3-4 Team in first 5 innings: 4-1-2
Allowed run in first inning: 3-7 Totals: under 2-2-3

— Wyverns lost six of their last seven games.
— SK lost five of its last six home games.
— Wyverns’ bullpen is 3-11 this season.
— Under is 8-1-2 in Wyverns’ last 11 games.
— SK is 4-8 in series finales, 2-3 at home.

Twins @ Eagles
LG Twins (24-13)
Wilson is 2-0, 3.04 in his last four starts; he is 0-0, 3.27 in two home starts.
Teams’ record in his starts: 4-3 Team in first 5 innings: 2-3-2
Allowed run in first inning: 2-7 Totals: under 5-2

Teams’ record in his starts: 1-1 Team in first 5 innings: 1-1
Allowed run in first inning: 1-2

— Twins won seven of their last nine games.
— LG’s bullpen is 7-3 this season.
— Twins are 11-5 on the road.
— Eight of Twins’ last 11 games stayed under.
— LG is 10-2 in series finales, 5-0 on road.

Hanwha Eagles (9-29):
SWJang is 0-4, 9.55 in his last five starts; he is 0-2, 8.00 at home.
Teams’ record in his starts: 1-5 Team in first 5 innings: 0-5-1
Allowed run in first inning: 2-6 Totals: over 5-1

— Hanwha lost 20 of its last 22 games.
— Eagles are 5-15 at home.
— Under is 4-2 in their last six home games.
— Eagles are 5-7 in series finales, 3-3 at home.

Giants @ Heroes
Lotte Giants (19-18):
Straily is 0-0, 1.05 in his last four starts; he is 0-2, 4.05 in five road starts.

Teams’ record in his starts: 5-3 Team in first 5 innings: 2-2-4
Allowed run in first inning: 1-8 Totals: under 6-1-1

— Giants won eight of their last 11 games.
— Lotte lost 12 of its last 15 road games.
— Over is 5-2 in Giants’ last seven road games.
— Giants are 5-7 in series finales, 2-4 on road.

Kiwoom Heroes (21-17):
SHLee is 0-0, 2.45 in his last two starts; he is 0-1, 7.43 in five home starts.
Teams’ record in his starts: 3-4 Team in first 5 innings: 3-3-1
Allowed run in first inning: 3-7 Totals: under 5-2

— Heroes won three of their last four games.
— Kiwoom won six of its last nine home games.
— Eight of last 11 Kiwoom games stayed under.
— Heroes are 4-8 in series finales, 2-3 at home.

Dinos @ Tigers
NC Dinos (26-11):
CMKoo is 5-0, 0.94 in seven starts, 3-0, 0.69 in four road outings.
Teams’ record in his starts: 5-2 Team in first 5 innings: 4-1-2
Allowed run in first inning: 2-7 Totals: under 5-2

— NC lost five of its last eight games.
— Dinos won 12 of 17 road games.
— Over is 9-3-1 in their last 13 games.
— Dinos are 11-1 in series finales, 5-0 on the road.

Kia Tigers (21-17):
Gagnon is 1-1, 5.82 in his last three starts; he is 1-1, 4.50 at home.
Teams’ record in his starts: 3-4 Team in first 5 innings: 3-4
Allowed run in first inning: 3-7 Totals: under 5-1-1

— Tigers won six of their last eight games.
— Kia won nine of its last 11 home games.
— Over is 6-1 in last seven Tiger home games.
— Kia is 4-8 in series finales, 3-2 at home.