KBO Thursday betting preview: Bears to maul Dinos in rubber match

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Of course, the night I elect not to write about the Dinos losing, they lose. But we knew that would happen, right?

Nevertheless, it was a 2-1 finish in KBO League play for us Wednesday, and we'll look to build off that momentum in Thursday's slate.

ESPN game: NC Dinos (-125) @ Doosan Bears (-105)

The seemingly impossible happened Wednesday, as not only did the Dinos lose, but they lost a one-run game; they were previously 6-0 in contests decided by a single run this season. As fun as this start to the year has been for Dinos fans, regression looms in a big way. They're not the best team in the KBO - arguably not even top three - and the sheer amount of close games they're winning is unsustainable. Wednesday's loss feels like it could be the start of a regression period for the Dinos - much like the one currently hitting the Lotte Giants.

The Dinos lost more than the game Wednesday, as star catcher Yang Eui-ji - the team's RBI leader - left injured in the top of the ninth inning after awkwardly sliding into second base. It's highly unlikely he plays Thursday, with the concern being whether he will miss an extended period.

Not having Yang would be a massive blow for the Dinos, who send Lee Jae-hak to the mound for this rubber match. Lee's two starts this season have been a mixed bag. His 2019 numbers were adequate, but he struggled against the Bears. In two starts against Doosan last year, he allowed eight runs on 16 hits and three walks across 12 innings, and he posted worse numbers against them the season before.

The Bears counter with Yu Hui-kwan, who bounced back from a rough first start by pitching five scoreless innings his last time out. Yu is a savvy veteran and a stable presence on the mound; you generally know what you're going to get when he's pitching. He was solid in his only start against the Dinos last season, allowing three runs over five innings. He also impressed in two home starts against them in 2018, allowing just three runs on 12 hits across 12 2/3 frames.

Coming off a streak-busting loss and likely without their star catcher, the Dinos should be held in check while the Bears piece together enough offense to pick up the series win.

Pick: Bears (-105)

Hanwha Eagles (+130) @ KT Wiz (-165)

Winners of five straight, the Wiz go in search of a second successive series sweep Thursday. A soft schedule is partly to thank for this winning run, but their lineup has been raking as well, scoring an unbelievable 54 runs in the last five games. Over city, right?

I'm actually fading the hot offense here with an under play, as the Eagles send young starter Kim Ee-whan to the mound. Kim has started the season really well, allowing just two runs in 11 innings and picking up where he left off in his rookie campaign. Kim has allowed two runs or fewer in eight of his 10 career KBO starts.

So Hyeong-jun, another impressive young arm, gets the nod for the Wiz. Through two starts, the rookie is an impressive 2-0 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.32 WHIP and gets a banged-up Hanwha lineup in his third game. I'd expect runs to be at a premium in this contest.

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.