Can a pitcher reach 200 innings for the first time in three years?

Raul Alcantara (31-Dusan Bears) is the pitcher with the most innings in the league this season. Through 26 games, he’s logged 165⅓ innings. That’s 8⅓ innings ahead of second-place David Buchanan (157). Among Korean pitchers, Ko Young-pyo has pitched the most innings with 166⅔ innings. Eighth among all pitchers.

Recently, Alcantara has been a textbook example of an ‘innings eater’. From August 9 to September 4, he went seven innings in five consecutive games. He has 20 quality starts (6+ innings and 3 earned runs or less), the most in the league.

Alcantara showed his true colors against the Lotte Giants on September 4. The result wasn’t pretty. He gave up four runs in the first inning alone. He gave up 10 hits during the game. He was the losing pitcher as his team lost 3-4. However, he didn’t let the loss rattle him, and he was able to get out of the jam quickly. He ended up going seven innings, which was good for a starter. Alcantara’s pitching allowed Doosan to save its bullpen, which was facing a nine-game series, including a doubleheader, after Monday’s game.

“He pitched like an ace,” said Doosan manager Lee Seung-yeop, who praised him regardless of whether he won or lost.

If Alcantara continues to pitch at his current pace, he should be able to reach 200 innings.

Doosan has played 117 games through 11 days. With 27 games remaining, he should be able to pitch at least five or six more. With a hectic standings race, a seven-game outing is possible if the four days of rest are utilized properly. If he continues to pitch six innings, he could easily reach 210+ innings.

Alcantara stopped at 198⅔ innings in 2020, when he went 20-2 and led the league in wins and winning percentage.스포츠토토

At the time, Odrisamer Despaigne (KT) pitched 207⅔ innings, and for the next two years, a 200-inning pitcher was missing.

Last year, Ahn Woo-jin (Kiwoom) pitched a monster season, setting a new record for the most strikeouts in a season by a Korean pitcher (224), but finished the year at 196 innings.

Alcantara vowed to be a “filial son” when he signed with Doosan ahead of the season. He didn’t get back to 20 wins, but his innings were enough to earn him the title of “Filial Alcantara.