KT Wiz will face off against Lotte Giants at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 7th.
KT predicted Ko Young-pyo as the starting pitcher. In the starting rotation, he pitches in fifth order after Wes Benjamin, Sohn So-jun, Eom Sang-baek, and Bo Shul-seo.
Koh Young-pyo, who was the ace of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) national team, is at the very end of the starting rotation. There is a level of sufficient rest after the WBC, but the pitch itself was also considered.
Director Lee Kang-cheol played the opening series with LG and said, “I take a break and take a break, and since the end of last year I have been hit a little bit. I think I got used to it because I threw too many times,” he said, referring to Koh Young-pyo’s selection order backwards.
Director Lee also said, “So Hyeong-jun is good with an average ERA of 2 points. Eom Sang-baek also has a good pitch,” he said of the rotation ahead of Ko Young-pyo.
Koh Young-pyo’s performance against LG last year was not good, with an average ERA of 5.19, 2 wins and 1 loss in 5 games. In addition, Koh Young-pyo has not won in 6 games since September of last year, and has not been good with 3 losses and an average ERA of 5.03. In particular, in October, he was beaten with 5 runs in 5 innings and 4 runs in 3 innings in 2 games (against LG).
Compared to the average ERA of 4 wins in July 3.20 and the average ERA of 4 wins in August 2.63, it is a big difference.
Koh Young-pyo played for the WBC national team and as a starting pitcher in the match against Australia, he recorded 2 hits (1 home run), 2 walks, 4 strikeouts and 2 runs in 4⅓ innings. He pitched well through the third inning without giving up. He blocked it with 1 run in the 4th inning without a bases loaded crisis, and was replaced after being hit with a solo home run in the 5th inning.
After returning from the WBC, he returned to the team and started only one game in an exhibition game. Against SSG on March 25, he allowed 4 hits and 1 run in 3 innings.
He made his first appearance of the season as a bullpen, not a starter. On the 2nd against Suwon LG, Koh Young-pyo took the mound and allowed a squeeze bunt hit in the 11th inning, 1 company, 2nd and 3rd base crisis, with a 9-9 tie. As the bullpen pitchers were exhausted, Koh Young-pyo was forced to play as a relief pitcher. 메이저놀이터
On the other hand, KT could not play a single game properly due to spring rain in three consecutive matches against KIA during the week, and Koh Young-pyo’s start was delayed for one more day.
The first game on the 4th was stopped due to heavy rain in the middle of the 4th inning, but it became a no game in the rain. On the 5th, it rained all day and was canceled early due to rain. On the 6th, after the second inning, which tied the score 0-0 in Gyeonggi Province, the game was stopped due to pouring rain.
It could be good for Go Young-pyo. Ko Young-pyo was strong against Lotte last year with an average ERA of 0.56, 1 win and 1 loss in 2 games.