"It seems like it will be difficult once."
Adam Oller of the KIA Tigers is expected to skip his first start of the second half. Oller recorded a victory with a strong performance of 6 innings and 2 earned runs against the Kiwoom Heroes on June 25, but then took a break. Inflammation in his elbow has not completely healed. His scheduled start on July 8 against Hanwha also fell through, and the gap is extending through the All-Star break.
Ultimately, he will skip the first rotation of the second half. On the first day of training for the second half, held at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on the 14th, manager Lee Bum-ho noted at a press briefing that "Oller is unlikely to pitch in the four-game series against NC. We need to check a bit more. We are also considering a substitute pitcher. It seems we will have to use Kim Gun-guk."
Although expectations were high for Oller to rejoin the team normally, he has begun to rely on a substitute starter from the first game of the four-game series against the NC Dinos in the second half. Additionally, with the return of Lee Yi-ri, who is finishing rehabilitation after elbow surgery, the rotation schedule has become more complicated. For now, ace James Neale will start in the opening game of the second half against NC in Gwangju on the 17th.
For the second game on the 18th and the fourth game on the 20th, they are contemplating between Lee Yi-ri and Kim Gun-guk. Kim Do-hyun will start in the third game. Lee Yi-ri is dealing with blisters from a Futures League appearance, and they have decided to monitor his bullpen sessions before determining his start date. Moreover, since it is his first appearance after returning, he will not be able to pitch many innings. The manager noted, "Even if he pitches, we are thinking about around 60 pitches."
Yang Hyun-jong is expected to make his first appearance of the second half against the LG Twins in Gwangju on the 22nd after taking sufficient rest. Ultimately, Oller's appearance is projected to come after Yang Hyun-jong. This marks nearly a month since he has been absent due to inflammation. The coaching staff decided to give him more time, considering that he should not rush back to the mound before being in perfect pitching condition.
Oller has showcased stability with 8 wins and 3 losses, an ERA of 3.03, and 12 quality starts over 16 games this year. He has firmly maintained his position alongside Neale as a one-two punch. However, due to an unexpected injury, there has been a gap in his presence. With Lee Yi-ri returning, Oller's performance is crucial to secure a spot in the autumn baseball of the second half.
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