KBO Preview: Lotte Giants vs Samsung Lions | July 17 Starting Pitchers & Predictions

Na Gyun-an

Away Starter | Lotte Giants

5W-7L | ERA 3.90 | 92 1/3 IP | 80K

Won Tae-in

Home Starter | Samsung Lions

4W-5L | ERA 3.58 | 78 IP | 70K

Starting Pitcher Breakdown

The pitching matchup presents a clear contrast in stylistic approach and recent effectiveness. Na Gyun-an takes the mound for the visiting Giants with a 5-7 record and 3.90 ERA across 92⅓ innings pitched. His arsenal relies heavily on fastball-heavy mechanics, deploying his 143 km/h heater at 35% frequency, complemented by a 28% usage rate of his 130 km/h forkball—a pitch that has proven effective at generating swing-and-miss opportunities. His cutter rounds out the mix at 17%, registering at 138 km/h. With a WHIP of 1.40 and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 80:27, Na demonstrates moderate control but inconsistent command execution.

Opposing him is Samsung Lions’ Won Tae-in, who enters with a 4-5 record and superior 3.58 ERA through 78 innings of work. Won’s fastball-centric approach dominates at 39% frequency, matching Na’s velocity at 143 km/h. However, Won maintains tighter control, evidenced by his 1.35 WHIP—the fifth-best mark among regular KBO starters—and a more disciplined 70:17 strikeout-to-walk differential. His secondary arsenal includes a 24% changeup deployment at 129 km/h and a 17% slider usage at 131 km/h. Won’s recent form has been notably stronger, winning four of his last five starts with only one significant blowout loss against LG.

Team Form and Recent Performance

The Lotte Giants continue to languish in eighth place with a 38-2-46 record, representing one of the most disappointing campaigns in franchise history. Their recent five-game stretch reveals a deeply troubled offensive lineup incapable of generating consistent run production. Across this span, the Giants managed only five runs in two losses to the Kia Tigers, a marginal recovery against KT with two additional losses, and their sole victory—an 11-3 rout over Kia—represents an outlier rather than evidence of systematic improvement. Na Gyun-an’s last appearance against Samsung exemplifies this malaise, a 1-4 defeat that underscores the Giants’ inability to support their pitching staff adequately.

Samsung Lions, conversely, maintain stranglehold control of first place with a dominant 52-2-32 record, establishing themselves as the clear championship favorites. Their recent performance validates this positioning: wins of 4-1 against Lotte, 6-5 versus LG, 9-2 against LG, and 13-3 over SSG demonstrate balanced offensive and defensive execution. Even their sole loss in the last five contests—an 2-8 defeat to LG—occurred in a context where the Lions maintained their first-place position despite the setback. Won Tae-in has benefited from Samsung’s superior run support, with his four victories coming in games where the Lions’ offense supplied adequate cushion.

Head-to-Head History

The 2026 season series remains precisely balanced at 3-3 between these franchises, establishing genuine parity in this particular matchup despite the significant gap in overall standings. This statistical equivalency suggests that when these teams face each other, contextual factors beyond raw talent differential emerge as decisive elements. The Giants’ three victories demonstrate their capability to elevate performance against Samsung specifically, while the Lions’ three wins confirm their consistency against Lotte’s inconsistent lineup. Neither team has established dominance in this rivalry this season, indicating that July 17th represents a genuine competitive contest rather than a predetermined outcome.

Key Matchup to Watch

The critical battle centers on Samsung’s aggressive fastball approach against Lotte’s left-handed power hitters. Won Tae-in’s 39% fastball usage and his aggressive pitch sequencing will test whether Giants batters can capitalize on predictable fastball locations. Na Gyun-an’s forkball effectiveness becomes equally important; if his off-speed pitch establishes consistent strikes, he can force Samsung hitters into defensive swings rather than the aggressive approach that has generated the Lions’ league-leading run production. Additionally, the battle between Samsung’s disciplined baserunning and Lotte’s defensive efficiency will determine whether the Lions can convert offensive opportunities into runs without relying on home runs.

Prediction

Samsung Lions enter this contest with demonstrable advantages across multiple analytical dimensions: superior run support infrastructure, Won Tae-in’s tighter control metrics, and recent momentum established through their first-place standing. While Lotte’s head-to-head parity suggests competitive potential, their organization-wide struggles and Na Gyun-an’s elevated WHIP indicate structural vulnerabilities against Samsung’s methodical offensive approach. The Lions’ ability to manufacture runs through situational baseball should overcome the Giants’ inconsistent offensive output, particularly if Won maintains his characteristic command and limits walking base runners.