Last year, the NC Dinos upset the odds and made the playoffs.

They defied pundits’ predictions with a strong batting lineup, a bullpen that came out of nowhere, and a dominant domestic pitching staff. Aside from the imposing presence of “20-win ace” Eric Feddie, the NC was solid.

Not many experts picked NC to win the title again this year. The average prediction was a mid-table finish.

They were even mentioned as a top-five contender, but it looked like they were going to be pushed aside once again, as many of the lower-ranked teams in the field bolstered their rosters to become mid-table contenders.

However, since the beginning of the season, 스포츠토토 NC has been quietly making waves.

As of August 8, after 13 games, NC is in first place with a 9-4 record and a .692 winning percentage. This is thanks to a sweep of a three-game home series against SSG Landers last weekend. It was a dominant series with a score of 31 runs to 4 runs.

Their two-hit balance stands out. The national-level lineup of Park Min-woo, Son As-seob, Davidson, and Park Gun-woo is still as destructive as ever.

But it’s the mound that stands out.

NC has a team ERA of 3.12 through 13 games, which is first among the 10 clubs.

The league average is 4.84, with the bottom-ranked KT Wiz at 8.35. Despite the record-breaking ride, with 124 home runs in the first 65 games, NC pitchers have allowed the fewest walks in the league (9).

The starting pitching is even better. They lead the league with a 2.40 ERA in 13 games. They are the only team in the double digits and are tied for first with six wins.

The one-two punch of the newly acquired foreign pitching staff is dominant.

Kyle Hart and Daniel Castano are a successful left-handed duo who have combined for the best record among the 10 clubs.

Hart is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three starts, while Castano is 2-0 with a 0.93 ERA in three starts. The rotation flows like water as the one-two punch has combined for four wins and a 1.93 ERA in six games with no losses.

They’ve been dominant against teams that boast strong one-two punchers like LG Casey Kelly-Dietrick Enns, KT William Cuevas-Wes Benjamin, 바카라사이트 and Doosan Raul Alcantara-Brandon Waddell. Add to that the form of Shin Min-hyuk, who has pitched two consecutive scoreless games, and you’ve got a strong third starter.

The bullpen is still a concern, but if the starters can hold up, NC’s strong batting lineup will give them a chance. NC’s early season surge to the lead. It’s not “luck.