KBO Update: Pitching Powers, Machado Surges

Our check-in with former I-Cubs in the Korean Baseball Organization finds us right where we were four weeks ago, with pitching remaining supreme.

Of the top-five slots on the league’s ERA leaderboard, former Iowa Cubs claim four spots. Dan Straily (2.03) leads the herd in second, trailed by Drew Rucinski (2.05), Eric Jokisch (2.12) and Aaron Brooks (2.49). NC’s Chang Mo Koo leads the league with a 1.35 mark.

Straily took over second-in-command with one earned run allowed over his last three starts (21.0IP), totaling a 3-0 record and a 0.43 ERA through this stretch. The righty also checks in at second in the KBO in strikeouts with 89, trailing Koo by three.

Rucinski has also been lights-out recently, registering a 0.78 ERA (2ER/26.0IP) through his last four starts. With nine wins on the year, Rucinski is tied for second in the league with Jokisch, and ranks fifth with 73 strikeouts.

Jokisch fell to fourth in the league in ERA after giving up a season-high six earned runs through 5.2 innings against Doosan on July 21. The lefty took the loss after recording four-consecutive winning decisions.

Brooks has allowed more than three earned runs in a start just once this season and has nine quality outings under his belt. He’s won back-to-back starts and notched his longest outing of the season with 8.0 frames in his last outing against Doosan on July 17.

On the other side of the ball, Dixon Machado has hit a hot streak, batting .432 (16-for-37) through his last 11 games. Through this span, Machado has whiffed just twice. The infielder is batting .288 (65-for-226) this season with 12 doubles and 39 RBI.

News broke at the end of June that Addison Russell signed with Kiwoom. According to Roto Wire, Russell just completed his two-week quarantine after arriving in South Korea, and is slated to work out with the Heroes on Friday.