Weekend Picks

The EAFF East Asian Cup

South Korea at China

10 p.m. Saturday, Wuhan, China

The women’s national team will have its first match of the EAFF East Asian Cup against China on Saturday night. It is the squad’s first appearance since the FIFA Women’s World Cup in June. The team passed the group qualifier and reached the round of 16 in the international tournament for the first time. The women’s team now stands at 17th in the FIFA Rankings.

Host country China is in14th place. After reaching the quarterfinals in the world cup, the country proved it is still internationally competitive. In 31 confrontations, South Korea’s women have only three wins against China.

KBO League

Samsung Lions at Doosan Bears

Friday - Sunday, Jamsil Stadium, Seoul

The Samsung Lions and Doosan Bears have led the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) league this season and will face off from Friday to Sunday. The three-day series is an opportunity for both sides to secure first in the KBO standing.

Lions rookie Koo Ja-wook is expected to be a key player. With a .352 batting average, the young player has shown strong performances this season. Since July 3, he has made a hit every game. He has also made nine home runs so far.

Fans are hoping that infielder Chae Tae-in steps up his game. Although the 32-year-old has a .331 batting average, he made only four hits from Friday to Wednesday. Chae returned to the KBO last week after recovering from an injury.

For the Bears, foreign pitcher Dustin Lippert is likely to return to the mound during the series as a relief pitcher. Bears manager Kim Tae-hyeong told the media that the 34-year-old pitcher can appear on the last day of the series against the Lions “if he doesn’t have any problems.” If he takes the field, it will be Lippert’s first appearance in the KBO since June 6, when he complained of pain in his arm during a game against the Nexen Heros.

LG Twins at SK Wyverns

Friday - Sunday, Munhak Sports Complex, Incheon

After a 3-for-3 trade last Friday, the LG Twins and SK Wyverns will meet for the first time. With the Twins at ninth and the Wyverns at sixth, fans are curious which side got the better end of the bargain.

Both teams are coming off losses - with the Twins stumbling against the Lotte Giants and the Wyverns falling to the Kia Tigers on Tuesday and Wednesday - and are looking for redemption this weekend.

BY NAM YOON-SEO [nam.yoonseo@joongang.co.kr]