Game: Samsung Lions vs Kia Tigers
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024
Location: Gwangju Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, South Korea
TV: SPO-2T
On Monday, October 28, 2024, the vibrant Gwangju Kia Champions Field will host an exciting match-up where the powerful Kia Tigers, boasting an impressive record of 87 wins and 55 losses, currently hold the top position in the KBO, will face off against the Samsung Lions, who maintain a strong 78 wins and 64 losses, placing them second in the league.
The Samsung Lions have demonstrated their offensive prowess throughout the season, amassing a remarkable total of 204 doubles and sending 185 balls out of the park. The team possesses a commendable slugging percentage of .428 and has experienced 1,150 strikeouts while securing 531 walks at the plate. Averaging 5.4 runs per game, they currently stand 6th in the league. So far this season, the Lions have accrued 734 RBIs and a total of 1,336 base hits, leading to a batting average of .269 and an impressive on-base percentage of .347, with a cumulative score of 770 runs.
Ja Wook Koo emerges as a pivotal player for the Samsung Lions, showcasing a stellar batting average of .318 throughout his career. With 879 runs scored and an extraordinary OPS of .897, Koo’s contributions are vital to the team’s success. Despite striking out 910 times, he has demonstrated patience at the plate with 478 walks, resulting in a .385 on-base percentage. Koo has also belted 167 home runs and driven in 786 runs, boasting a career slugging percentage of .512 and totaling 2,408 bases. Accumulating 5,307 at-bats, he has recorded 1,495 hits, illustrating his consistent offensive capability.
The Samsung Lions have displayed exceptional defensive skills this season, racking up 3,848 putouts, complemented by 1,252 assists and 81 errors, culminating in an impressive fielding percentage of .984 that ranks them first in the KBO. The team has successfully turned 105 double plays so far and demonstrated base-running agility by stealing 114 bases, although they have been caught 50 times, resulting in a caught stealing percentage of 30.5%.
The team’s pitching staff holds a competitive ERA of 4.68, placing them 3rd in the KBO, and has struck out a notable 980 batters. While they have given up 164 home runs and allowed a total of 719 runs—ranking 10th in the league—their pitching has still proven capable, with 1,384 base hits allowed, averaging 9.7 hits per nine innings. With a K/BB ratio of 2.05 and a WHIP of 1.45, the Lions’ pitchers continue to seek improvement.
In contrast, the Kia Tigers are leading the league with a staggering slugging percentage of .459, averaging 5.96 runs per game. They have achieved a remarkable 266 doubles and have walked 529 times, compiling a staggering total of 858 runs. This season, Kia has hit 163 home runs and recorded 812 RBIs. The Tigers have struck out 915 times, ranking 10th in the league, while accumulating 1,542 hits. Their offensive efforts are highlighted by a .370 on-base percentage and a batting average of .301.
Socrates Brito stands out as a potential game-changer for the Kia Tigers. With an impressive on-base percentage of .335, Brito has also drawn 500 walks throughout his career while striking out 1,363 times. In his professional journey, he has achieved a batting average of .284 over 6,536 at-bats, amassing a total of 1,857 hits and scoring 993 runs. Additionally, Brito has driven in 879 runs and smacked 162 home runs, totaling 2,879 bases over his career with a slugging percentage of .440.
The Kia Tigers’ base-running skills have shone brightly this season, successfully stealing 108 bases out of 139 attempts, while being caught 31 times, resulting in a caught stealing rate of 22.3%. Defensively, they have executed 133 double plays but hold a fielding percentage of .973, which ranks 10th in the league. This season, the Tigers have accumulated 1,400 assists, committed 146 errors, and recorded a total of 3,864 putouts.
The Kia pitching staff has faced challenges as they have surrendered 759 runs, contributing to a team ERA of 4.40, with 629 earned runs allowed. This season, they have given up 141 home runs and allow an average of 5.30 runs per nine innings, ranking 4th in the KBO. With a team WHIP of 1.478 and a FIP of 5.30, their strikeouts versus walks ratio stands at 2.09, with 1,125 strikeouts compared to 539 walks. Their defensive struggles have led to them being ranked 8th in the league in terms of total hits surrendered, with 1,365 hits allowed this season.
Who will win tonight’s baseball game against the spread?
Josh Schonwald’s Pick: Take Samsung
