The NC Dinos have completed a perfect four-game postseason sweep. But while everyone was celebrating, there was one person who wasn’t smiling. Tanner Talladega.

Since the start of the postseason, NC has yet to pull out the “20-win pitcher” Eric Peddy card. Paddy’s health has been an issue. But the best-case scenario has come true, as the Korean pitching staff of Tanner, Song Myung-ki, and Shin Min-hyuk have won all four games.

Luckily, Paddy is back. After being the subject of “if he’ll be back tomorrow” and “when he’ll be back” throughout the semi-final series, it’s time for him to be back in the playoffs. The team needs him, and he has his honor on the line. “If there are no changes, Pedi will play in the first round of the playoffs,” Kang said after the semi-playoff series.

Pedi’s return is a huge boost for the NC starting lineup. The depleted bullpen was fortunate to have four days off after the semifinals ended in three games. That’s plenty of time to recover, and with Peddie’s addition to the rotation, it’s a battle worth fighting.

But Tanner’s shaky pitching is the one remaining variable for NC. Tanner started two games, the wild-card decider and Game 3 of the semifinals, and struggled in both. In the wild-card game against the Doosan Bears, he was rocked for seven hits (one home run), three walks, and five runs in four innings, most notably giving up three straight runs in the first three innings. Fortunately, NC rallied in the bottom of the fourth inning with a grand slam by Seo Ho-cheol, but then had a nightmare in the fifth inning when they loaded the bases and gave up a run in relief of Lee Jae-hak to tie the game again at 5-5.

In his second fall feast in the third game of the semifinals against the SSG Landers, where he was initially expected to pitch, Tanner struggled again. He gave up five runs in the second inning alone, including a grand slam to Choi Jung, and was pulled after just two innings. In two games, he’s allowed just two home runs.메이저놀이터

Even if Pedi returns, Tanner will likely have to pitch again in the playoff series against the KT Wiz. KT has a better pitching staff than SSG this season. Their 1-3 starters of William Cuevas, Wes Benjamin, and Ko Young-pyo are among the best in the league. Given that NC’s offense is at its peak this year, it’s likely that these two teams will go at least four games. NC will also have to use Tanner once again unless they have a solid extra starter, and his shaky pitching in the first two games is a factor.

Tanner was the pitcher NC acquired in August when they released Widener and signed him to make the postseason. In 11 regular season games, he pitched a solid 5-2 record with a 2.92 ERA. Out of those 11 starts, he had eight quality starts. However, in the postseason, he has yet to show his true colors. Tanner’s resurgence is essential if NC is to take the pressure off Paddy and make a miraculous run to the Korean Series.