The NC Dinos are trying to save their “20-win ace” Eric Peddie, 30, for last. NC head coach Kang Myung-hyun was asked the same question after Game 3, and he gave himself some wiggle room.
Ahead of the third game of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO Postseason Semi-Finals (Semi-PO-5 best-of-three) against SSG Landers at Changwon NC Park on the 25th, Kang said, “Pedi trained normally today (25th). It’s true that it’s a little better than before. But it’s hard to say where he is right now. I’ll be more precise after the third game.”
NC, which took the first and second games away from home, will face KT Wiz, the second-place team in the regular season, in the playoffs on April 30 if they win today. Despite the extra time, NC is determined to end the series in the third game.
The team’s stamina is one reason, but so is the health of ace Pedi, who is still not 100%. In 30 games and 180⅓ innings pitched this season, Peddy has a 20-6 record with 209 strikeouts and a 2.00 ERA. He led the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts, becoming the first foreigner to win the pitching triple crown in 12 years and the first since KIA’s Yoon Seok-min in 2011. He also became only the fifth pitcher in history to record 20 wins and 200 strikeouts at the same time, and the first in 37 years since Hae-tae Sun Dong-yeol (24 wins, 214 strikeouts) in 1986.
However, he suffered an untimely injury in his last appearance of the regular season on April 16 against the Gwangju KIA. He was hit in the right forearm by a pitch from Ko Jong-wook and was diagnosed with a simple right forearm contusion. He did not take the mound for the next three postseason games. Kang said, “I don’t think (Pedi) will say no, but if he says no in Game 4, Choi Sung-young will go out. If Choi pitches today, Pedi will go out tomorrow (June 26), and if Choi doesn’t go out today, Choi will go out in Game 4. In fact, that’s the only option,” he smiled.
SSG Oh Won-seok.
There was a reason why he didn’t give a definite answer. Speaking to reporters before the second game, he said, “There’s nothing to hold back now, so I’ll definitely play in the third game. I have my own anxiety, but I don’t think I’m going to put it off anymore,” he said, hinting at Pedi’s participation. However, after the interview and training ended, Pedi complained of discomfort and was diagnosed with simple impingement syndrome after a medical examination.
“I apologize for being a liar,” Kang said, adding, “(Pedi) expressed some discomfort and anxiety after training today. I think it will be difficult for him to play the third game,” he said.
The only way to see Peddie’s face for once against NC, who will try to save their aces for last, is to take down Game 3 starter Tanner Tully quickly. Tanner, who is 5-2 with a 2.92 ERA in 11 regular-season games, made his fall ball debut earlier in the day against the Doosan Bears in the wild-card decider. However, he struggled, allowing five runs on seven hits (one home run) and three walks without striking out in four innings.
SSG’s lineup consisted of Choo Shin-soo (designated hitter), Guillermo Heredia (center field), Choi Jeong (third base), Han Yu-seom (right field), Ha Jae-hoon (left field), Park Sung-sung (shortstop), Kim Sung-hyun (second base), Oh Tae-gon (first base), and Kim Min-sik (catcher). This is a lineup that shows a strong will to score first by putting Heredia, who has a decent batting average, in front of the plate.굿모닝토토 주소
NC doesn’t plan to back down either. NC’s batting order was Son Asub (designated hitter), Park Min-woo (second base), Park Geon-woo (right field), Jason Martin (center field), Kwon Hee-dong (left field), Seo Ho-cheol (third base), Kim Hyung-joon (catcher), Kim Joo-won (shortstop), and Do Tae-hoon (first base).
There were no changes from Game 2 except for the first baseman, who was switched from Oh Young-soo to Do Tae-hoon. With the same lineup that was used against Kim Kwang-hyun, the team will once again try to shut down left-hander Oh Won-seok. Oh Won-seok was 8-10 with a 5.23 ERA in 28 regular-season games, but he settled into a groove with a 3.38 ERA in four games after his September 23 relief win against Incheon Lotte, which was a turning point. Against NC, he was 2-2 with a 4.98 ERA in four games.
Kang said, “If possible, we will do our best to win today. The players who pitched in the middle innings will be waiting until the end,” he said.
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