The Doosan Bears are looking to make KBO postseason history. A wild-card upset. Doosan, which entered the wild-card game in fifth place for the first time in the 10-team system, will send Kwak-Bin to the plate in Game 1 with no looking back. However, the omission of “filial ace” Raul Alcantara from the wild-card roster is a variable.
Doosan will take on the NC Dinos in Changwon on October 19 for the first round of the wild card decider. Doosan, which enters the wild-card decider in fifth place, will be immediately eliminated from the series with a loss or tie in Game 1. A win in Game 1 would give them a chance to advance to the semifinals with Game 2 in Changwon on April 20.
Doosan clinched fifth place with a loss to SSG Landers in Jamsil on Saturday. In the season finale against SSG in Munhak on the 17th, which had no bearing on the standings, Doosan took it easy.
Despite the disadvantage of playing the wild-card game in fifth place, Doosan has a chance to become the KBO’s first-ever wild-card upset. That’s because NC has used up its ace, Eric Peddy, as it battles for position until the final game of the season. Shin Min-hyuk, a competitive homegrown starter, also pitched the season finale on April 17.
Instead, Doosan was able to keep its “homegrown ace” Kwak-Bin Kwak and Brandon Waddell, who has been in the best form of late, in the starting rotation in time for the wild-card game. NC will use Tanner Tully and Song Myung-ki as their starting pitchers in the wild-card game. In effect, it’s an asymmetrical starting matchup.
Doosan manager Lee Seung-yeop said, “Kwak-bin was in the worst shape when he pitched last week. Fortunately, he showed good results by increasing his changeup ratio in a bad condition. Still, it’s the first game of the wild-card deciding series after five days of rest, so he’ll be able to prepare well for a game that the team can win.”
Choi Seung-yong and Choi Won-joon, who were recently categorized as starters, will also be in the bullpen for the Wild Card Game. In a series that could be decided by a single game, there could be some early mound changes.먹튀검증
However, the omission of “filial ace” Alcantara from the roster for the wild-card game is a big change. Alcantara pitched a quality start against SSG in Jamsil on the 16th, going 6 innings and 92 pitches with 4 hits, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. While a bullpen appearance in Game 2 of the wild-card decider after three days of rest is arithmetically possible, the Doosan bench saved Alcantara for the semifinals.
Lee said, “Alcantara still looked a little uncomfortable with his back, but he pitched well and maintained some velocity. I think he’ll be ready for the first game of the semifinals rather than the wild card game.”
Ultimately, a wild-card upset will be the only way to see Alcantara in fall baseball in 2023. It will be interesting to see if Doosan can make postseason history and reach the semifinals with Alcantara leading the way.
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