Start your weekend off right with some KBO betting. The Korean Baseball League rolls into some exciting weekend series, where we've found some betting value on two of the best teams in the league.
We bring you picks for that game, and more, as we break down the KBO odds and bring you our best Korean baseball predictions for Saturday, August 22.
For more information on Korean baseball check out our KBO Betting Guide, and if you want to know who the favorite is to win this season's Korean Series, click here for the latest KBO title odds.
KBO Betting Odds
Here are the KBO odds for Saturday, August 22.
| Away Team | Odds | Home Team | Odds | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanwha Eagles | +180 | LG Twins | -217 | 9.0 |
| Kia Tigers | -109 | Kiwoom Heroes | -107 | 9.5 |
| NC Dinos | -100 | KT Wiz | -116 | 11.5 |
| Doosan Bears | -144 | SK Wyverns | +123 | 11.5 |
| Lotte Giants | +107 | Samsung Lions | -125 | 10.5 |
Today's KBO Picks
ESPN Game of the Day: NC Dinos (51-31-2) vs KT Wiz (45-39-1)
Probable Pitchers: Sung-young Choi (2-2, 4.92 ERA) vs Hyeong-jun So (7-5, 4.64 ERA)
The NC Dinos’ bats came back in a big way against the Kia Tigers, plating 24 runs in the mini two-game set on their way to back-to-back victories. The Dinos hope they can carry that momentum into their weekend matchup with the KT Wiz.
The Wiz are coming off a series in which they surprisingly scored just four runs against the last-place Hanwha Eagles, who have one of the worst pitching staffs in the KBO. Now, they’ll face the steady Sung-young Choi.
The lefty isn’t usually mentioned when people talk about the Dinos’ starting pitching, but he just goes to the mound and does his job. Sung-young may have a mediocre 4.92 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP, but he hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in a start since July 3rd.
Meanwhile, Wiz rookie Hyeong-jun So has turned his season around in a big way. The 18-year-old has allowed just one earned run over his last three starts.
However, two of those starts came against the SK Wyverns, and the Dinos are not the Wyverns. They are healthy and hot at the dish. With the bullpens being a wash (both are bad), ride with the first-place team as a slight underdog.
PREDICTION: NC Dinos (-100)
Kia Tigers (44-41) vs Kiwoom Heroes (54-37)
Probable Pitchers: Hyun-jong Yang (8-6, 5.57 ERA) vs Tae-hoon Kim (5-0, 3.89 ERA)
You can make the argument that the Kiwoom Heroes are now the best team in the KBO. They have won 16 of their last 22 games to climb into second place. They have a league-best 54 wins. The offense has been much more balanced since adding former Chicago Cub Addison Russell. They have an extremely strong front end of the rotation. And most importantly, they actually have a good bullpen (a rarity in the KBO). So, why is the price so short on them today against the Kia Tigers?
The Tigers hand the ball to Hyun-jong Yang, and while the Tigers have some great starters, Hyun-jong is more, so-so. The veteran lefty has a 5.57 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP and in three starts against the Heroes, he’s pitched to a 6.28 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP.
On top of that, it’s unlikely he’ll get much support, as the Tigers’ offense tends to dry up on the road. Their 3.76 runs per game away from home is the worst in the KBO, even worse than the Hanwha Eagles.
The only reason we're getting a price this good on the Heroes is that they're making this a bullpen game. But the Heroes have the best bullpen in the KBO and are the only team that can reasonably attempt this. It’s probably a trap, but it’s hard to say no to this value.
PREDICTION: Kiwoom Heroes (-107)
Lotte Giants (42-40-1) vs Samsung Lions (41-46-1)
Probable Pitchers: Jun-won Seo (5-4, 4.92 ERA) vs Tae-in Won (6-4, 3.83 ERA)
The Lotte Giants and Samsung Lions are stumbling further down the KBO standings and can’t afford to fall much farther behind the playoff teams, making this weekend’s series all the more important.
Our favorite Waffles, (the Giants) hand the ball to Jun-won Seo Saturday, and it’s been an up-and-down year for the 19-year-old right-hander, but he’s been on a bit of downslope recently. Jun-won has pitched to a 7.52 ERA and a 2.02 over his last five starts. That includes lasting just three innings against the Lions, giving up five runs on seven hits.
The Lions counter with one of their best starters in Tae-in Won. The right-hander has a 3.83 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP this season and has been dynamite against the Giants this season. Tae-in has limited the Giants to just one earned run on nine hits in 14 2-3 innings over two starts.
With the Lions in what has felt like a month-long slump, taking them to have the lead through five innings seems like the safe bet.
PREDICTION: Samsung Lions -0.5 First 5 Innings (+102)
KBO Betting Record: 138-109-5, +17.28 units
KBO Betting Card for Saturday, August 22
- NC Dinos (+100)
- Kiwoom Heroes (-107)
- Samsung Lions -0.5 First 5 Innings (+102)
Where can I bet on Korean baseball odds?
While not every online and casino sportsbook will carry odds for the KBO League, many do, even with the MLB finally back in action. Check out the best sportsbooks available where you live and see what KBO odds they have available.
