Dean was 9-7 with a 4.14 ERA in 30 starts. He was 1-1 and had a 4.67 ERA in three regular season meetings against the Bears.

Dean was sitting at 5-5 with a 4.88 ERA in 17 starts entering the All-Star break in July. He came back to go 4-2 in 13 second-half starts with a 3.18 ERA. He was touched for 15 homers in his first 99 2/3 innings but allowed seven homers over his next 76 1/3 innings. He also improved his strikeout rates.

He was particularly strong down the stretch. He posted a 2.38 ERA in his final five regular season starts and pitched into the seventh inning in four of those games while holding opponents to three or fewer earned runs in all five.

The Bears will have second-year right-hander Michael Bowden on the mound. In an injury-plagued season, Bowden was limited to 17 starts and posted a 3-5 record with a 4.64 ERA.

Last year, he was 18-7 in 30 starts with a 3.80 ERA.

He did pitch well in the Bears' championship run last year. Facing the NC Dinos in Game 3 of the 2016 Korean Series, Bowden tossed 7 2/3 shutout innings and struck out 11.

Bowden made one regular season start against the Tigers this year on July 29. He was the losing pitcher after allowing two earned runs on five hits and two walks in six innings. (Yonhap)