Ryu and Kim hope for better luck in second same day start

Baseball

Published: 15 Jun. 2021, 15:10 Updated: 15 Jun. 2021, 16:23

Ryu and Kim hope for better luck in second same day start

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin throws to a Chicago White Sox batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Chicago on June 10. [AP/YONHAP]

Ryu Hyun-jin and Kim Kwang-hyun are set to start on the same day in the majors for the second time this month, hoping for better luck than their last joint outing when they both walked away with losses.

Ryu of the Toronto Blue Jays and Kim of the St. Louis Cardinals are both set to start on Tuesday, or Wednesday morning in Korea. The games come at a difficult time for both players, as Kim makes his return from a brief stint on the injured list (IL) and Ryu grapples with an uncharacteristically difficult month on the mound.

Ryu and the Blue Jays will take on the New York Yankees at their temporary home at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, while Kim will make his return to the mound as the Cards host the Miami Marlins at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri.

Ryu is having an unusually bad month in June, losing both appearances this season with his ERA for the month at 6.94, a huge bump up from 2.60 in April and 2.64 in May.

The Korean ace had a particularly tough time on his first outing this month on June 4, which was also when Ryu and Kim first pitched on the same day for the first time this season, giving up six earned runs and three walks in a 13-1 loss to the Houston Astros at home.

Ryu's second game was against the Chicago White Sox on June 10, when he gave up three earned runs in the 5-2 loss.

The Yankees game could be a shot at redemption for Ryu. The southpaw has faced the New York side twice already this season, walking away with a no decision after pitching five and one third innings with two earned runs on opening day on April 1.

Two weeks later on April 13, Ryu threw six and two third shutout innings for a win against the Yankees.

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun pitches during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium on June 4. [USA TODAY/YONHAP]

Kim has been out with an injury since his June 4 game against the Cincinnati Reds, when he gave up three earned runs in three innings for the loss. He took himself out of the game before the fourth inning due to lower back tightness. Kim also started the season on the IL for the same reason.

Kim has struggled this season and currently has a 1-4 line, after losing his last four games in a row. He has a 4.05 ERA on the season and has struggled to establish himself as a pitcher that can stay in the game beyond the initial few innings.

Ryu and the Blue Jays will start their game against the Yankees at 7:07 p.m. local time, or 8:07 a.m. on Wednesday in Korea. Kim and the Cards will take on the Marlins at 7:15 p.m. local time, or 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday in Korea.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]