KBO Predictions and Analysis – Friday, September 17 (2021)

The previous round of the elite South Korean baseball league brought us some wild games. The same pairs meet again on Friday, and I won’t be shocked to see more of the same.

I share my expectations on five of the six games on the schedule in my KBO predictions for September 17. They include info on the starting pitchers, key stats, and projected outcomes for the following fixtures.

The opening game between the Heroes and the Eagles was thrilling! The underdog scored seven runs in the sixth inning, but Kiwoom somehow managed to recover and score six in the last two to earn a dramatic draw.

I think the mental edge will be with the Heroes after this insane comeback, and they also have the stronger starting pitcher for Friday.

Choi Won-tae has been better than Kim Ki-joon this season, and we already saw that Hanwha’s bullpen is way too unreliable. I expect a victory for the Heroes this time around.

The Kia Tigers surprised the Samsung Lions in the previous round, and I must admit I didn’t saw this one coming. The underdog’s starting pitcher held the opposition until the offense built a solid advantage, and the team held it.

The Tigers can’t rely on the same strategy for the next clash because Han Seung-hyuk is next in the rotation. He struggled badly in his only start in 2021, and I don’t think he can stop the Lions.

On top of that, Samsung’s next pitcher is Baek Jung-hyun. The veteran has been among the best players in his position in the entire league and already performed great against the same opponent this season.

I think that the Lions will bounce back after Thursday’s defeat and win the next clash.

These two teams are expected to meet twice on Friday; I’m covering only the early game in my KBO predictions for September 16.

The Dinos should have the upper hand when it comes to the starting pitchers on Friday, and they have the much stronger offense. That’s enough for me to back them in the next round, but the Twins are not doomed by any means.

I thought that the Lotte Giants could surprise KT Wiz Suwon in the previous round, and it was close early on. The favorite’s bullpen was much stronger and made the difference in the end.

KT Wiz should build an early lead this time around because the leaders are expected to start Bae Je-seong. The youngster has been great this season, and he already beat the Giants once.

He’s been much stronger than Dan Straily, who looks lost in 2021, and I don’t see how the American can stop one of the most prolific squads in South Korean baseball. I simply feel obliged to back the KBO leaders in my KBO predictions for September 16.

The opening game between the Landers and the Bears was close. The defenses dominated the clash, and there was no winner in the end.

I expect a completely different encounter on Friday. Both sides will send pitchers that have struggled this season, and we could easily see a shootout.

I would normally back the Bears under such circumstances, but the Landers have a good record against them in 2021, and Doosan’s starter was awful in his last three games.

This should be close once again, but I think the Landers should be able to steal the game.