KBO Preview: Hanwha Eagles vs SSG Landers | June 28 Starting Pitchers & Predictions

Ryu Hyeon-jin

Away Starter | Hanwha Eagles

8W-2L | ERA 2.76 | 81 2/3 IP | 63K

Choi Min-jun

Home Starter | SSG Landers

1W-4L | ERA 4.84 | 57 2/3 IP | 47K

Starting Pitcher Breakdown

The pitching disparity in this matchup is stark and heavily favors the visiting Hanwha Eagles. Ryu Hyeon-jin takes the mound for Hanwha with an impressive 8-2 record and a 2.76 ERA through 81⅔ innings pitched. His WHIP of 1.07 demonstrates exceptional control and efficiency, supported by a 63:11 strikeout-to-walk ratio that reflects both precision and dominance. Ryu’s arsenal is built around a fastball averaging 142 km/h deployed 45 percent of the time, complemented by a changeup (23 percent usage, 127 km/h) and cutter (18 percent, 134 km/h) that create lateral movement and disruption. This diversified pitch mix, combined with his elite control metrics, has established Ryu as a top-tier performer in the 2026 KBO season.

SSG Landers counter with Min-jun Choi, whose statistics present a concerning contrast. Choi’s 1-4 record with a 4.84 ERA and 1.46 WHIP indicates significant struggles this season. Through 57⅔ innings, he has surrendered 47 strikeouts against 27 walks—a concerning ratio that suggests both diminished velocity and inconsistent command. His fastball sits at 140 km/h (35 percent usage), complemented by a curveball (19 percent, 120 km/h) and two-seam fastball (13 percent, 138 km/h). The absence of a dominant tertiary pitch and the elevated walk rate suggest limited margin for error against a high-powered Hanwha lineup. This represents a severe disadvantage for the home team in what promises to be a pitcher’s duel heavily favoring the visitors.

Team Form and Recent Performance

Hanwha Eagles maintain sixth-place standing with a 36-2-37 record, indicating a team hovering near .500 but demonstrating considerable inconsistency. However, their recent form against SSG has been exceptional. Over their last five games, the Eagles have compiled three victories, including consecutive dominant performances: an 8-1 victory and a 9-2 triumph against the Landers. While sandwiched defeats to Doosan (3-5 and 2-7 losses) suggest vulnerability against certain opponents, the Eagles’ ability to score 8+ runs in back-to-back contests against SSG indicates offensive firepower that their current standings may understate.

The SSG Landers occupy ninth place with a concerning 30-2-44 record, placing them in a severe rebuilding period or experiencing significant roster challenges. Their recent form has been disastrous, particularly against division rivals. Over their last five contests, the Landers have managed only one victory (5-4 vs KT) while suffering four losses, including a humiliating 1-8 setback and a 2-9 defeat to the same Hanwha Eagles team they face today. The 2-13 and 7-12 losses to KT indicate a team struggling fundamentally, lacking both pitching depth and consistent offensive production. This performance trajectory suggests the Landers are in genuine distress.

Head-to-Head History

The 2026 season series between these franchises has been unequivocally one-sided. Hanwha Eagles have dominated with an 8-2 record against SSG Landers, a disparity that extends beyond simple wins and losses. In their last two meetings, the Eagles scored 8 and 9 runs respectively, demonstrating an offensive ascendancy that the Landers have proven unable to counter. This 80 percent win rate against a division opponent is not coincidental—it reflects fundamental advantages in pitching quality, offensive consistency, and situational execution. The Landers’ inability to win series games against Hanwha suggests systemic challenges that a single evening’s performance is unlikely to remedy.

Key Matchup to Watch

The critical matchup centers on Ryu Hyeon-jin’s command against SSG’s middle-order batters. Given Min-jun Choi’s propensity for elevated walk rates (27 walks in 57⅔ innings), the Hanwha offense should aggressively pursue early fastballs and capitalize on any belt-height offerings. Conversely, SSG must manufacture disciplined plate appearances and avoid chasing Ryu’s breaking balls outside the strike zone. With Ryu throwing his changeup 23 percent of the time and his cutter an additional 18 percent, fastball counts will prove crucial. Any Landers batter who can lay off Ryu’s secondary offerings and force counts to 2-0 or 3-1 dramatically improves their probability of reaching base. However, given the Landers’ recent offensive struggles and walk rates (27 walks in games where Choi has pitched), this outcome appears improbable. Ryu’s ability to induce ground balls with his cutter while maintaining fastball velocity will likely prove decisive in limiting SSG’s scoring opportunities.

Prediction

Based on the substantial pitching disparity, Hanwha’s historical dominance in this matchup, SSG’s severe recent decline, and the analytical advantages demonstrated by both control metrics and run production trends, the visiting Eagles represent a compelling prediction. Ryu Hyeon-jin’s elite ERA and WHIP against Choi’s struggling metrics, combined with Hanwha’s proven offensive production against this specific opponent, suggests another Eagles victory. The Landers’ ninth-place standing and recent losses to multiple opponents compound the Eagles’ advantages. While baseball permits variance, the structural advantages overwhelmingly favor the visitors at 문학 Stadium on June 28, 2026.