KBO Tuesday betting preview: Bears end Dinos' winning run

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Following Monday's standard day off, all 10 KBO teams return to action Tuesday for the start of a new three-game set.

The first-place NC Dinos - winners of six in a row - visit the defending champion Doosan Bears, who sit in second place. It's a series I've been waiting for with bated breath.

If you've been following my daily KBO League previews, you'll know by now my thoughts on the Dinos. I've faded them repeatedly, only for crazy, late-inning heroics to bleed me dry. That all changes tonight.

Here are Tuesday's best bets.

ESPN game: NC Dinos (-115) @ Doosan Bears (-115)

If fading the Dinos is your thing (as it is mine), this is somewhat of a perfect storm. I'm not going to rant again about how lucky they've been, so let me rather break down this game and tell you why the Dinos' winning streak will finally come crumbling.

Mike Wright takes the mound for the visitors, and he's been sharp through two KBO outings since arriving from the Seattle Mariners. However, Doosan represents a massive step up in class from dates with the Samsung Lions and KT Wiz. The Bears lead the league in runs, average, on-base percentage, slugging, OPS, and average with runners in scoring position, and are a close second in home runs.

Doosan counters with Lee Young-ha, who's set to make his first home start of the season. He's been fine through two road outings - 2.38 ERA and 1.59 WHIP with more walks than strikeouts - but is a completely different pitcher at Jamsil Baseball Stadium. In 15 road starts last season, he had a disappointing 5.56 ERA and 1.48 WHIP. However, he was completely dominant in 12 home starts, posting an outstanding 1.92 ERA and 1.11 WHIP to go with a 9-0 record.

There's terrific value here with the Bears thanks to the Dinos hype combined with Wright's strong KBO debut and reputation as an MLB import. Given Lee's home/road splits and the fact he's backed by the league's best lineup, it's hard not to feel great about getting Doosan at this price, as it aims to put an end to the league's longest winning streak of the season thus far.

Pick: Bears (-115)

Hanwha Eagles (+150) @ KT Wiz (-180)

Despite what the unflattering rate stats suggest, we might have a pitchers' duel on our hands at Suwon Baseball Stadium.

Jang Shi-hwan toes the rubber for the visitors, and while his overall numbers are unsightly, he's got a strong K/9 rate and was excellent in five starts against the Wiz last season, during which he allowed just five runs and struck out 25 in 28 innings. Pitching has been a real bright spot for the Eagles this season, as they've posted a team ERA of 3.31, the second-best mark in the league.

Hanwha has been held back by its struggling lineup, as it's hit just four home runs - by far the fewest in the league - and scored only 38 runs through 12 games. And now the Eagles get set to face Wiz ace William Cuevas.

Following a very unlucky first start in which he allowed six runs on six hits, Cuevas bounced back excellently in his second outing when he limited the Dinos to just one run in six strong innings. His low WHIP is a strong indicator of the kind of pitcher he is, and he should be able to correct that unlucky ERA against a reeling Hanwha lineup, which he dominated last season. He was lights out in two starts against the Eagles in 2019 allowing just two runs in 13 innings on nine hits to go along with 16 strikeouts and just three walks.

Pick: Under 9.5 (-115)

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.