Run-scoring in the KBO has increased by nearly 17% compared to last season, while home runs remain up by 42%, at exactly one per game.

The KBO’s league-average OPS has increased by more than five percent, with the average KBO hitter now sporting a triple-slash line closer to MLB’s 2019 Adam Frazier (.278/.336/.417) than Lorenzo Cain (.260/.325/.372).

The disparity between the top and bottom of the league is substantial, however. In 2019, the difference between the top MLB offense in OPS (Houston, .848) and the last-place team (Miami, .673) was 175 points.

In the KBO, the difference between the top and bottom teams in OPS was fewer than 100 points last season, but has climbed to a 251-point gap this year, as the Dinos (.890) and Eagles (.639) are either well-ahead of or well-behind the pace, respectively.

The Eagles are in the midst of a 14-game losing streak — a new club record –and their manager Yong-duk Han resigned over the weekend after getting blown out by a combined 35-6 margin during a three-game set with the Dinos.

The Dinos will look to stay hot on Tuesday, as they play host to the reigning KBO champion Doosan Bears.

Doosan Bears vs. NC Dinos
Bears moneyline: +145
Dinos moneyline: -182
Over/under: 12.5
Time: 5:00 a.m. ET
TV: ESPN

Probable Pitchers: Doosan Bears (Je-yeong Jo) vs. NC Dinos (Sung-young Choi)

The Doosan Bears and NC Dinos are the two hottest teams in the KBO, entering Tuesday with 7-3 records in each of their past ten games and winning streaks of four and five games, respectively.

They are also two of the three best offensive teams in the league, with the Dinos sporting a league-best 128 wRC+, while the Bears rank just behind the LG Twins with a 114 wRC+.

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.

Both teams rank mid-pack in terms of FIP, with the Dinos (4.66) in fifth and the Bears (4.73) in sixth place, and bullpen effectiveness could be crucial on Tuesday with a pair of young starters squaring off to begin this three-game series.

The Bears will send out 19-year-old Je-yeong Jo for his first KBO start after their fourth-round pick allowed nine runs and 15 hits over 15 innings in the KBO futures league (10 BB, 10 K).

The Dinos will counter with 23-year-old lefty Sung-young Choi, who has posted an 8.47 FIP in two appearances this season, after recording a slightly below-average 4.22 FIP between the Dinos’ bullpen and rotation last year.

The southpaw tops out at around 87 mph, and I’m not particularly impressed with either his forkball or slider as secondary offerings

In addition to his subpar stuff, Choi has allowed 85 walks in 169.2 career innings pitched, with subpar strikeout numbers.

The Bears’ lineup consists of mostly left-handed bats, however — including the formidable pairing of Jose Miguel Fernandez (175 wRC+) and Jae-il Oh (154 wRC+) — so Choi is probably a decent match for their lineup, with his ability to throw a lefty on lefty forkball.

Eagles/ Giants

Hanwha Eagles (7-23):
Saupold is 2-3, 3.73 in six starts (under 6-0); Eagles scored 14 runs in those games.
Teams’ record in his starts: 2-4 Team in first 5 innings: 3-3
Allowed run in first inning: 2-6

— Hanwha lost their last 14 games; they fired their manager Sunday, then sent NINE guys down to the minor leagues, brought nine new guys up.
— Eagles are 2-10 in their 12 road games.
— Over is 7-2 in their last nine games.
— Hanwha is 3-7 in series openers, 2-3 on road.

Lotte Giants (14-15):
Sampson is 0-2, 8.64 in two starts (over 1-1)
Teams’ record in his starts: 0-2 Team in first 5 innings: 0-2
Allowed run in first inning: 1-2

— Giants won their last three games.
— Lotte is 9-5 at home this season.
— Under is 15-6 in Giants’ last 21 games.
— Giants are 5-5 in series openers, 4-1 at home.

Tigers/ Wiz

Kia Tigers (15-15):
HJ Yang is 4-1, 3.72 in his last five starts (over 5-1); Tigers scored 11+ runs in three of his four wins.
Teams’ record in his starts: 4-2 Team in first 5 innings: 3-2-1
Allowed run in first inning: 2-6

— Kia is 6-9 on road, losing last five away games.
— Under is 6-1 in last seven Tiger road games.
— Kia scored total of 36 runs in their 15 losses.
— Under is 10-5 in Kia losses; over is 9-6 in their wins.
— Tigers are 5-5 in series openers, 3-2 on road.

KT Wiz (11-18):
HJ So is 4-1, 6.21 in five starts (over 4-1); Wiz scored 43 runs in the five games.
Teams’ record in his starts: 4-1 Team in first 5 innings: 4-1
Allowed run in first inning: 3-5

— Wiz lost seven of their last nine games.
— KT’s bullpen is 0-10 this season.
— Wiz is 3-11 on the road this year.
— Four of their last five games stayed under.
— KT is 3-7 in series openers, 2-3 on road.

If u had to choose - Lions or Bears? Thx Mike.

Both easy winners as huge doggies