This article is part of our DraftKings KBO series.
We have some strong pitching options on the hill Friday night, which makes our pool of viable hitters a little narrower than usual. Naturally, this is the hitter-friendly KBO, so there could still plenty of unexpected performances. However, there appear to be two particularly clear-cut spots that could be especially fruitful for DFS purposes.
As customary, I'll highlight what I consider to be two of the safer pitching options at different price points, followed by some one-off hitters across the salary scale that could also prove profitable for cash games and/or tournaments. I'll then break down the two stacks that I trust the most to potentially string some above-average offensive numbers together and pay off for you in tournaments.
Pitchers
Eric Jokisch ($9,600) is averaging a slate-high 17.2 DK points per start, and he's been at his best at home, where he owns an 8-1 record, 1.57 ERA, .192 BAA, 0.83 WHIP and average of 20.8 DK points over 11 starts. The left-hander also posted a quality start against Hanwha earlier in the season and is coming of a seven-inning, 12-strikeout shutout gem against the Bears in his last start. With the Eagles ranked last across the board in all major offensive statistics this season, this sets up as an excellent spot for the former MLB arm.
Drew Gagnon ($8,800) has had some stumbles this season, but a lot of them have actually come at home. On the road, where Gagnon and the Tigers find themselves Friday, the right-hander owns
We have some strong pitching options on the hill Friday night, which makes our pool of viable hitters a little narrower than usual. Naturally, this is the hitter-friendly KBO, so there could still plenty of unexpected performances. However, there appear to be two particularly clear-cut spots that could be especially fruitful for DFS purposes.
As customary, I'll highlight what I consider to be two of the safer pitching options at different price points, followed by some one-off hitters across the salary scale that could also prove profitable for cash games and/or tournaments. I'll then break down the two stacks that I trust the most to potentially string some above-average offensive numbers together and pay off for you in tournaments.
Pitchers
Eric Jokisch ($9,600) is averaging a slate-high 17.2 DK points per start, and he's been at his best at home, where he owns an 8-1 record, 1.57 ERA, .192 BAA, 0.83 WHIP and average of 20.8 DK points over 11 starts. The left-hander also posted a quality start against Hanwha earlier in the season and is coming of a seven-inning, 12-strikeout shutout gem against the Bears in his last start. With the Eagles ranked last across the board in all major offensive statistics this season, this sets up as an excellent spot for the former MLB arm.
Drew Gagnon ($8,800) has had some stumbles this season, but a lot of them have actually come at home. On the road, where Gagnon and the Tigers find themselves Friday, the right-hander owns a solid 3.10 ERA and 1.14 WHIP across 13 starts, numbers that have helped lead to an 8-3 record, .215 BAA and 17.8 DK points per game. The opposing Lions make for a solid matchup as well, as spiraling Samsung is averaging the third-fewest runs (4.9) and hits (9.2) per game, and have hit the third-fewest home runs (96) on the campaign.
ALSO CONSIDER: Chan Heon Jung ($9,100); Won Joon Choi ($7,000)
Top Targets
Jung Hoo Lee ($6,100) is pricey but worth it, considering his .337/.402/.550 line for the season, one that includes a whopping 59 XBH, 87 RBI and even 10 steals over 112 games. The young outfielder also boasts a .364 average with runners in scoring position and has struck out on just 39 occasions in 497 plate appearances, and he's carrying a .352 average and .564 slugging percentage in 60 home contests. Eagles starter Ee Whan Kim is also a highly appealing target, considering he's yielded a 6.88 ERA across 10 appearances (eight starts).
Hyun Soo Kim ($4,800) is always in contention to serve as one of the best fantasy-point-per-dollar values on a slate, as he enters with a .348/.411/.574 slash that's partly comprised of 53 XBH and 97 RBI over 108 games. Kim is also hitting an absurd .510 with runners in scoring position and checks in with just 45 strikeouts in 475 plate appearances, making him highly reliable in terms of making consistent contact. With an average of 10.2 DK points per game and a .368 average over his last 10 games, Kim is arguably the top mid-priced hitter Friday.
Hoon Jung ($4,300) is highly capable of outpacing his current price, as he enters Friday's game with a .307/.395/.464 line that includes nine homers, 46 RBI, seven steals and 56 runs across 75 games. The veteran also sports a .382 average with runners in scoring position, and his 131 total bases on the season underscores how consistent an offensive presence he's been. Then, consider Jung has been his best on the road, where he's averaging 9.4 DK points per 36 games.
ALSO CONSIDER: Eui Ji Yang ($6,200); Ha Seong Kim ($6,000); Mel Rojas ($5,900); Preston Tucker ($5,700); Jose Fernandez ($5,700)
Bargain Bats
Ji Wan Na ($3,600) has no business being priced where he is, considering his .300/.396/.468 line that includes 30 XBH (15 doubles, 15 home runs), 77 RBI and 60 runs over 103 games. Na has boosted his RBI production with a .364 average when runners are in scoring position, and Lions starter Ben Lively has been prone to giving up the long ball with eight homers surrendered in just 70 innings.
Dong Yeop Kim ($2,400) is facing one of my recommended starting pitchers in Gagnon, but the combination of his price and upside is too good to pass up. The veteran checks in with a .310/.343/.500 line that is partly comprised of 28 XBH and 46 RBI, and he's swinging a hot bat of late. Kim has a .450/.452/.725 line and average of 11.3 DK points over his last 10 games, making him the potential steal of the night at his salary.
ALSO CONSIDER: Jun Woo Jeon ($3,600); Jeong Dae Bae ($3,600)
Stacks to Consider
Twins vs. Adrian Sampson: Ji Hwan Oh ($4,400); Roberto Ramos ($5,000); Hyun Soo Kim ($4,800); Hyung Jong Lee ($4,000)
Sampson has been in much better form lately after some horrendous performances earlier in the season. However, the 5.47 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and .302 BAA he still carries, and the six homers he's yielded over 50 road innings, make him a target. Additionally, Sampson is 0-3 with an 8.04 ERA, 1.79 WHIP and .366 BAA over three starts against the Twins.
Oh gets your stack started off nicely, even though he's struggled recently. Oh has a .333/.353/.485 line in eight games against Giants pitching, and he still has four double-digit DK-point tallies in the last 10 contests overall.
Ramos is always a threat to leave the yard, as evidenced by his 33 homers on the campaign. Three of those have come in the last 10 games, during which he's averaged 10.2 DK points per contest.
Kim's positive attributes were discussed earlier, while Lee is an excellent cost-savings option to round out your onslaught. He brings a .305/.387/.546 line with 22 XBH and 25 RBI and has decimated Lotte pitching for a .400 average, .478 OBP and two homers over six games.
Heroes vs. Ee Whan Kim: Keon Chang Seo ($4,700); Ha Seong Kim ($6,000); Jung Hoo Lee ($6,100); Woong Bin Kim ($4,000)
As already mentioned in Lee's entry, Kim has been highly attackable this season. Additionally, the Heroes come in with averaging a healthy 5.5 runs per game and have slugged 110 homers across 114 games.
Seo is enjoying a strong season that includes an average of 8.3 DK points, 30 XBH and 23 steals. The veteran has also performed well versus Hanwha, posting a .316 average (12-for-38) across 12 games.
Kim is a great partner with Lee, and he comes into Friday with a .347 average and .448 OBP across 12 games versus the Eagles this season. He brings excellent power upside with 43 XBH, including 24 homers, and he's averaging an impressive 9.4 DK points in the last 10 games.
Lee was already discussed earlier, and Woong Bin Kim makes for a cost-effective way to round out the stack. The infielder checks in with a blistering .379/.526/.724 line and average of 10.2 DK points in the last 10 games, giving him some nice upside at his salary.
