It's an intriguing 1-2 big matchup. Professional baseball's LG Twins will face the KT Wiz at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 28th.
As of the 27th, KT is first with a 17-8 record. LG is second, half a game back, with a 16-8 record. With only a 0.5-game difference, the No. 1 team could change each game during the three-game series. LG lost both games of the two-game opening series against KT. They also have a debt to repay.
LG will start Lachlan Wells as the starting pitcher for the game against KT on the 28th. Wells, signed under the Asia quota, has appeared in four games and posted a 2-1 record with a 1.44 earned run average. With starter Son Ju-yeong sidelined before the season because of an internal oblique muscle injury, Wells is pitching as a starter rather than in the bullpen. He has allowed two runs or fewer in all four appearances. He has been playing exceptionally well, exceeding early-season expectations.
In particular, in the game against Hanwha on the 22nd he turned in a career performance: eight innings, one hit, one walk, seven strikeouts and no runs allowed. It was his first chance at a complete-game shutout in his career, but he was replaced by closer Yoo Young-chan in the ninth while leading 3-0.
After the game, Wells said, "I wanted to pitch in the ninth. I really wanted to go out in the ninth. I have never thrown a complete-game shutout, so I told the coaching staff I wanted to go out. But although it's disappointing, I'm satisfied that I put the team in a position to win for now," expressing his regret about the shutout.
Manager Youm Kyoung-youb said he did not push him according to his manual. Youm said, "First, I think the build-up is always up to the fifth game after the opening. I didn't want to overwork him; that was the first reason. Also, because Wells has to appear twice next week (Tuesday and Sunday), we must not overwork him," he said.
Youm also explained, "The second reason is that when we first picked Wells, the scouting team and the analysis team said his run allowed rate was very high after 80 pitches. It was like that in Australia. Since his run allowed rate is high after 80 pitches, we need to supplement that."
With an eye on two starts this week, Wells, who was replaced after 84 pitches, will lead off the three-game 1-2 big matchup series. It will be watched whether he can lead LG to first place.
Meanwhile, KT's starting pitcher is Matt Sauer. This season he has appeared in five games and has a 1-1 record with a 4.08 earned run average. He started the opening game against LG and was the winning pitcher after allowing three runs in five innings. In his subsequent four appearances he recorded two quality starts but has no wins.
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