Lee Yi-ri (20-KIA Tigers) faces the hottest team in the game as he tries to reach a career-high in individual wins. He’ll also have to stop his team’s losing streak.
Lee will make his 21st start of the season against the KT Wiz of the 2023 KBO League at Katie Wiz Park in Suwon on April 22. After struggling with his pitches in the first half of the season, Lee has been “zero” since July, and he has shown more stability with the lead support of new catcher Kim Tae-gun. Ji added a victory on July 16 against the Kiwoom Heroes, pitching six innings of one-run ball, giving him 10 wins this season. It’s the second straight year he’s won 10 games after last season (2022).
Lee will attempt to match his single-season win total against KT on the 22nd. His record last season was 10 wins and 10 losses. While Lee’s form has improved significantly recently with a breakthrough in hitting, fastballs, and aggressive pitching, KT is currently the hottest team in the 10-team division.
KT has won eight of its last 10 games (two losses). Injuries plagued the team early in the season, dropping them to the bottom of the standings, but after overhauling their lineup, they regained their “title contender” form and won 21 of their 26 games in the second half of the season, overtaking SSG Landers for second place in the league. Today’s starter is Uhm Sang-baek, who has made quality starts (QS-6 innings or more and 3 earned runs or less) in his last two games against KIA.메이저사이트
Lee has pitched well in his two starts against KT this season. He threw five innings of one-run ball in his first start on May 30 at home (Gwangju Kia Champions Field) and five scoreless innings against Suwon on May 8. His July appearance came at a time when KT was on the rise.
However, the 2021-2022 season has not been kind to him, with three losses in four starts without a win. In 20 innings, he gave up 17 runs (13 earned) for a 5.85 ERA.
Currently, KT is without its top hitter, Park Byung-ho, due to a left calf injury. Kang Baek-ho, the other leading hitter, is out of the first team. However, Kim Min-hyuk, who was the weakest link in the lineup with a .556 batting average, has been hitting at his best this season. KT is currently riding high on the strength of its two-hit power combination rather than individual ability and form.
KIA has won five of its last 10 games. As of the 21st, they are sixth in the league with 48 wins, 2 draws, and 49 losses on the season. The Doosan Bears and Lotte Giants, who are also vying for a spot in the top five, aren’t far off in fifth place thanks to their inability to climb out of the sub-5% win column.
Recently, KIA’s starting lineup has been weighed down by the loss of ace Yang Hyun-jong to the first-team roster due to poor form, while foreign pitcher Mario Sanchez has struggled for four straight games. Lee Yi-ri will have to lead the team to 11 individual wins and a team victory.