Alex Kielar | May 26th, 2020
This KBO season seems to be flying by as we hit the three-week mark for these rankings. We are getting closer to hopefully having an MLB season, but in the meantime let’s continue to fill the baseball void.
10. SK Wyverns (3-14)
Previous: 10
They were finally able to win more than just one game, winning two this week, but they continue to show that they are the worst team in the league. It doesn’t look like they will be able to string many wins together, as they win one game and then go on another losing streak. Their run differential has dropped even farther to -46, while the second-worst is -17 by the Lions. Their pitching has really struggled, besides Jung-bin Kim who hasn’t given up a run in 8 1/3 innings pitched in relief. Starter Tae-hoon Kim has also pitched fairly well, but he surrendered four earned runs in his one start this week. Dong-min Han leads the team with six home runs, which is second in the league.
9. Samsung Lions (6-12)
Previous: 9
The Lions were able to avoid a sweep by the hands of the Bears on Sunday, blowing them out 13-0, but also lost their series to the top-tier Twins. They have given up over four runs in eight of their 12 losses this year, and their team ERA, minus one appearance from Dong-jae Hwang giving up eight earned runs in 1 1/3 innings, is 4.39. Sang-su Kim continues to be their best hitter with a .389/.522/.500 slash line after a 10-for-20 week. Suk-min Park is now slugging .542 which is 15th in the league.
8. Hanwha Eagles (7-11)
Previous: 7
They had a chance to take two of three from the ferocious Dinos, but after taking the lead in the top of the sixth inning on Sunday, they gave it right back up. They would never regain the lead and lost their fourth game of the week. Warwick Saupold picked up his second win on the year on Saturday, giving up three earned runs in six innings. His ERA sits at a solid 2.25 through 28 innings. Woo-ram Jung picked up another save to increase his total to four on the season, tied for second in the league.
7. KT Wiz (7-10)
Previous: 6
They were two outs away from a 4-2 week and winning both their series, until a Roberto Ramos walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth. They still went 3-3 on the week, the second straight week of .500 baseball after a 1-7 start, so they are heading in the right direction. Mel Rojas Jr. continues to be on a tear as he had four straight multi-hit games and hit a homer on each side of the plate on Saturday. He is slashing .423/.468/.690 after 17 games. Je-seong Bae has only given up two runs and 21 hits in three starts.
6. Lotte Giants (9-8)
Previous: 4
After starting out 5-0, the Giants went 2-4 for the second straight week and continue to fall in these rankings. Dan Straily struck out six more batters this week to up his total to 25 and is tied for the league lead.
5. Kiwoom Heroes (10-8)
Previous: 5
The Heroes were mediocre this week as they needed extras to win the series against last-place SK and then lost two of three to the reeling Giants. Three of their hitters have hit four homers, Jung-hoo Lee, Byung-ho Park, and Dong-won Park, while Ha-seong Park has hit three.
4. Kia Tigers (10-8)
Previous: 8
After going .500 last week, the Tigers won five in a row before losing their final game against SK, as they got some really solid pitching. The most runs they gave up were four in their loss and they pitched one shutout.
3. Doosan Bears (10-7)
Previous: 3
It was only a .500 week for the Bears, but Jose Miguel Fernandez rose his batting slash line to .500/.544/.764 after going 13-for-24 and driving in eight RBIs, including a six RBI game against Samsung on Friday. He hit homers in back-to-back games in that series as well. His 1.308 OPS leads the league.
2. LG Twins (11-6)
Previous: 2
The Twins were able to avoid losing the series against the Wiz with a huge walk-off grand slam off the bat of Roberto Ramos, which was his league-leading seventh bomb. They overcame a 7-4 deficit in that bottom half of the ninth inning and finished with a 4-2 week.
LG's Roberto Ramos wins the game with a walk-off grand slam in the 9th against KT.
— Dan Kurtz (@MyKBO) May 24, 2020
🔊SBS Sports with the call pic.twitter.com/EgcdYeTWFQ
1. NC Dinos (14-3)
Previous: 1
The Dinos have yet to lose a series this year as they just keep on rolling. Chang-mo Koo has been nearly unhittable, surrendering just one run and eight hits in three starts over 22 innings pitched. The former Angels, Twins, and Marlins pitcher Drew Rucinski was masterful on Saturday, as he went perfect through four and wound up going eight shutout innings and surrendered four hits. Min-woo Park is 12th in the league with a .984 OPS.
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Main Credit Image: Embed from Getty Images
