Eric Peddy (30, NC Dinos), the number one starting pitcher in the 2023 regular season, finally appears on the postseason (PS) stage.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced on the 29th the starting pitchers for the first game of the 2023 KBO League Playoffs (PO, 3 wins out of 5) held at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on the 30th. NC Dinos, ranked 4th in the regular season after defeating SSG Landers with a series record of 3 wins and undefeated in the semi-PO, will feature Peddie, and KT Wiz, ranked 2nd in the regular season, will feature William Cuevas (33).
Until 2022, the probability of the winning team in the first game advancing to the Korean Series (KS) in the 31 POs played with a 3-win system out of 5 is 78.1% (25 out of 32). Both NC and KT put up aces in a life-or-death game.
Peddie’s appearance is attracting attention. He recorded 20 wins, 6 losses, an ERA of 2.00, and 209 strikeouts in 30 games he appeared in during the regular season. He ranked first in terms of wins, earned run average, and strikeouts, becoming the 7th pitcher in history to achieve the Triple Crown. He also set a record of achieving 20 wins and 200 strikeouts in a single season at the same time in 37 years since Dong-yeol Dong-yeol (former national team coach) in 1986.
Peddie won a total of 21 wins in the big league, including performing full-time starting duties for two consecutive seasons (2021-2022) with the Washington Nationals of the Major League Baseball (MLB). A player recognized for his competitiveness on the MLB stage attracted attention by entering the KBO league in his prime. In fact, Peddie enjoyed success by using the Sweeper, a type of horizontal slider, as his main weapon.
Peddie leaves with bad news. He was replaced in the bottom of the 6th inning against the Gwangju KIA Tigers on the 16th, his last appearance in the regular season, after being hit on the right forearm by opposing hitter Ko Jong-wook’s batted ball. He was diagnosed with a contusion, but was unable to throw for a while. He was named in the semi-PO entry against SSG starting on the 22nd, and was also designated as the starting pitcher for the 3rd game. However, he suffered a pain in his arm after pitching from the bullpen, and his semi-PO appearance was cancelled.
The timing of Peddie’s sortie attracted attention throughout PS this season. In the end, it was decided to be the first round of PO, with a 78.1% chance of advancing to KS. As he has not been able to play in practice for over two weeks since his last appearance, recovering his game sense is key.
Peddie had a relatively hard time against KT’s batting lineup. He appeared 3 times in the regular season and suffered 2 losses (1 win). Although his earned run average (2.65) was not bad, he had the highest hitting percentage (0.271) among the nine teams he pitched against.
KT fights back with ‘big game feature’ Cuevas. He debuted in the KBO League at KT in the 2019 season and played until the 2022 season. In the regular season 1st place match against the Samsung Lions in 2021, he pitched 7 scoreless innings, leading to a 1-0 victory, and in the first game of KS against Doosan that year, he also won by allowing 1 run in 7 1/3 innings (score 4-2). ) He became a pitcher. In 2020, he recorded 3 games, 2 wins, and an average ERA of 2.21 in the KBO League PS, including PO.메이저놀이터
Cuevas was released because the elbow injury suffered in April of last year did not improve, but he joined KT again last June as a replacement for Bo Schulser. He ranked first in winning percentage, recording 12 wins and no losses in the 18 games he appeared in. He also maintained an earned run average (2.60). Looking at his pace in the second half, Cuevas is not behind Pedi.
Cuevas’ only appearance against NC in the 2023 season will be at home (Suwon) on June 30. He pitched well, allowing 2 runs in 6 innings. His career NC record is 11 games, 4 wins, 3 losses, and an average ERA of 3.38.