WEEKEND PICKS

BASEBALL

Korea Baseball Organization

Nexen Heroes at LG Twins

6:30 p.m. Friday, Jamsil Baseball Stadium, Seoul

The Nexen Heroes and the LG Twins, who shared three wins and three losses this season, will clash at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul this weekend starting today.

The Heroes’ pitcher Shin Jae-yong has battled through misfortunes in the past such as exclusion from the starting lineup and has come to lead the Heroes on the mound.

As of Thursday, Shin is ranked at the top among Korea Baseball Organization pitchers with a 2.71 earned run average (ERA). He’s conceded 27 runs and four home runs in the past 13 games he’s played this season, while striking out 50 batters. Shin is the only pitcher in the league with an ERA less than 3. Shin has collected 10 wins and only two losses.

For the Twins, it is third baseman Luis Jimenez that the team is counting on at the batter’s plate.

As of Thursday, Jimenez is ranked fourth among KBO batters in batting averages with .357. During 244 at-bats, Jimenez had 87 hits, 48 runs-scored and 17 home runs, ranking him third after Eric Thames of NC Dinos and Kim Jae-hwan of Doosan Bears in terms of homers.

The two clubs play at the same venue 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

FOOTBALL

K-League Classic

FC Seoul at Pohang Steelers

7 p.m. Saturday, Pohang Steel Yard, Pohang, North Gyeongsang

Undergoing a dramatic change in its managerial post, FC Seoul is traveling to Pohang this weekend to take on Choi Jin-cheul’s Pohang Steelers for the 16th round match of K-League Classic.

Former head coach Choi Yong-soo has left the team to take a job as the skipper for China’s Jiangsu Suning FC. As his successor, former Steelers manager Hwang Sun-hong took the helm for Seoul.

The match between Seoul and Pohang this weekend is receiving special attention from the K-League fans because of Hwang, who is to take on the team that he dedicated his career as a player and as a manager.

Hwang, who led the Steelers from 2011 to 2015 as the team’s manager, was overseas for coaching lessons before taking over the position.

The former Manager of the Year, Hwang led the Steelers to collect back-to-back FA Cup titles from 2012 to 2013 as well as to claim the K-League Classic trophy in 2013.

As a player, Hwang played for the Pohang-based team from 1993 to 1998, where he became a club legend after leading the team to success, including the 1998 Asian Club Championship.

Known for his meticulous management style, Hwang is considered perfect replacement for his former teammate Choi.

Seoul, which is currently ranked second in the K-League standings, has nine wins, three draws and three losses in the regular season.

Pohang, ranked eighth, has recorded four wins, six draws and five losses so far this season in the K-League Classic.