'Daejeon Jesus, What Now?' Weiss, 4⅔ Innings, 7 Runs Allowed vs. Dodgers → 'ERA Skyrockets to 7.62'... Kim Hye-seong Hit 'Batting Average 0.308'

*This content was translated by AI.

Ryan Weiss (30, Houston Astros), who had been a key part of Hanwha Eagles' one-two punch, is struggling even in his dream league, Major League Baseball (MLB). He bowed his head once again, facing the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

On the 5th (Korean time), Weiss made his second appearance as a pitcher in the 2026 MLB home game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas, USA. He threw 95 pitches over 4⅓ innings, allowing 8 hits (2 home runs), 4 walks, and 5 strikeouts, while giving up 7 runs (6 earned runs) in a poor outing.

Weiss, who had been trailing 3-8, handed the ball to the next pitcher, Deng Kaiwei, in the 6th inning and exited. The game ended without any further score changes, leaving him with his third loss of the season without a win. His ERA (Earned Run Average) also surged from 6.65 to 7.62.

Houston had announced a bullpen day and entered the game with that plan. Steven Okert, who had not started a game once this season, was the first to take the mound. However, he allowed three consecutive hits to Will Smith, Teoscar Hernandez, and Kyle Tucker from the top of the first inning, giving up one run. After also allowing a walk to Max Muncy, he was immediately replaced by Weiss.

Weiss, whose wife Haley Brooke was due to give birth, had taken leave for the birth and rejoined the team after the birth of his son. He effectively made his first start of the season against the Dodgers.

The start was good. With one out and bases loaded, Weiss struck out Andy Paredes with a 96.9 mph (155.9 km/h) four-seam fastball on a high inside pitch, forcing a swing and miss, and drew a sigh of relief.

After the lineup scored two runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead, Weiss returned in the second inning. He threw a changeup to leadoff hitter Kim Hye-seong, who was starting at shortstop, and induced a groundout to first base. However, he was hit by a 97.5 mph (156.9 km/h) four-seam fastball from Alex Freeland, which went over the left-field wall for a solo home run to tie the game. After allowing a walk to Shohei Ohtani and a double to Smith, he finally managed to close out the second inning, trailing 2-3.

In the third inning, a four-seam fastball thrown to leadoff hitter Tucker drifted toward the middle of the plate, allowing another home run. After giving up a hit to Paredes, he faced Kim Hye-seong. With a 2-1 count, Kim Hye-seong smashed a high fastball for a hit to right field.

Weiss then allowed a walk to Freeland and lost another run when Ohtani hit a ball toward the third baseman. He then gave up two more runs on a line drive hit by Freddie Freeman to center field.

In the fourth inning, he cleanly retired Hernandez with a sharp sweeper, inducing a looking strikeout, and finished the inning cleanly. However, he was shaken again in the fifth. He got leadoff hitter Kim Hye-seong out with a fly ball to left field, but then allowed a hit to Freeland, a walk to Ohtani, and a two-run single to Freeman.

After a tough fifth inning, Weiss handed the ball to Deng Kaiwei before the sixth inning and exited. The game ended without any further score changes, with the Dodgers winning 8-3.

Weiss, along with Cody Ponce (Toronto), was the best one-two punch last year, leading the Hanwha Eagles to the Korean Series for the first time in 19 years.

After the season, he signed a one-year, $2.6 million (approximately 3.84 billion won) contract with Houston, dreaming of succeeding as a starting pitcher in the big leagues. After enjoying the joy of becoming a father, he returned to the mound but could not bounce back, leaving behind a sense of regret.

Kim Hye-seong added a hit today, but his batting average dropped from 0.317 to 0.308 (65 at-bats, 20 hits). His on-base percentage and slugging percentage also fell from 0.382 and 0.417 to 0.370 and 0.400, respectively, and his OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) became 0.770.

Yamamoto Yoshinobu, who started for the Dodgers, threw 95 pitches over 6 innings, allowing 5 hits (1 home run), 1 walk, and 3 runs. However, thanks to a powerful team offense, he secured his third win (2 losses) of the season. His ERA rose from 2.87 to 3.09.

The Dodgers recorded 22 wins and 13 losses, riding a two-game winning streak to maintain their lead in the National League West Division. Meanwhile, the Astros recorded 14 wins and 22 losses, remaining in fourth place in the American League West Division.

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*This content was translated by AI.