Ron Crawford is back with a KBO free selection for Wednesday morning, June 24, and he is siding with the Kia Tigers on the moneyline at around +140 against the Kiwoom Heroes. After a clean winner in the league earlier in the day, Ron likes the Tigers to grind this one out late, with the matchup tilting in Kia’s favor once the bullpens get involved.
Matchup Overview
The Kia Tigers enter at 39-33-1, comfortably above .500 and in the thick of the KBO race, while the Kiwoom Heroes sit at 26-47-1, one of the league’s weaker clubs this season. The records alone suggest Kia is the more complete team, and the plus-money price makes the Tigers an appealing play for a club that should arguably be favored.
KBO games often come down to pitching depth and bullpen quality, and that is exactly where Ron sees the edge tonight. Kiwoom may hang around early, but the longer the game goes, the more it favors the stronger, deeper Tigers.
Starting Pitching Breakdown
Kia’s left-hander takes the mound carrying a 1.47 WHIP and a 4.12 FIP across 63 and a third innings, with 41 strikeouts. He is not overpowering, but he gives the Tigers innings and keeps them in games, and the offense behind him has the firepower to support a steady start.
Kiwoom counters with a starter who owns sharper ratios — a 1.23 WHIP and a 3.46 FIP with 48 strikeouts over 30 innings — but there is a major caveat. Over his last three outings he has gone just six, six, and three-and-a-third innings, a sign that he has not been built up to work deep. Ron’s read is that he is unlikely to go the distance, which is precisely where the Tigers can pounce.
Where the Value Is
Ron’s logic is straightforward: if you want the first five innings, you might lean Kiwoom, because the Heroes’ starter has the better stuff while he is in the game. But once that bullpen door opens, Kiwoom simply does not have enough — not enough relief depth and not enough bats — to close the game out against a Kia club that is the more dangerous lineup.
That is why Ron is taking the Kia Tigers on the full-game moneyline at around +140. You are getting a plus price on the better overall team, betting that the late innings break in Kia’s favor as the Kiwoom starter exits and the bullpen is exposed.
Betting Angle and Bullpen Edge
The bullpen disparity is the heart of this play. Kiwoom’s relief corps has been a weakness all season, and when a short-stinted starter hands off early, that unit has repeatedly failed to protect leads or keep games close. Kia, with the deeper roster and the better bats, is built to capitalize on exactly that scenario.
For bettors who want to play it differently, a Kia run-line or late-game live bet is an option, but the cleanest expression of Ron’s read is simply the Tigers’ moneyline at plus money. Let the game come to you, and trust the deeper team in the late innings.
Final Prediction
Expect Kiwoom to keep it close early behind its starter, but once that arm departs — likely before the sixth — the Kia Tigers should take control, leaning on their superior lineup and the Heroes’ shaky bullpen to pull away. Ron Crawford’s play is the Kia Tigers on the moneyline at +140.
The Pick: Kia Tigers moneyline (+140).
Please remember that all sports betting carries risk. Bet only what you can afford to lose, treat these picks as entertainment and analysis rather than guarantees, and reach out to the 1-800-GAMBLER helpline if gambling ever stops being fun.
