DFS KBO: Friday Cheat Sheet

The KBO's stretch run continues Friday with an intriguing five-game slate that features a trio of former MLB arms as its top pitching options. There are also three games with projected double-digit run totals, which gives us plenty to speculate on for DFS purposes in terms of our hitter choices.

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

Raul Alcantara ($11,000) is worth the investment as the most expensive arm on the slate, considering he checks in averaging 19.6 DK points per start, which bumps up to 20.3 when Alcantara toes the rubber at home. He has an 8-1 record, 2.52 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 17 starts in his home park as well, and he's posted an impressive 12:1 K:BB in 13 innings over two prior starts versus the opposing Tigers. Kia is also averaging the fourth-fewest runs (5.1) and hits (9.4) per game, and Alcantara has piled up over 30 DK points in two of his last five starts alone, offering a glimpse at his extensive ceiling.

Dan Straily ($10,200) is an excellent pivot off Alcantara at $800 cheaper, and he's actually averaging a slate-high 20.9 DK points over his 26 starts. The right-hander is also averaging an outstanding 21.2 DK points in his 12 home starts specifically, a figure garnered partly on the strength of 80 strikeouts across 77.2 innings. He's also allowed just three home runs in that sample, and the opposing Eagles come in averaging a KBO-low 3.7 runs, 5.7 and 0.6 home runs per game.  

ALSO CONSIDER: Mike Wright ($9,600)

Top Targets

Jung Hoo Lee ($5,700) comes a few hundred cheaper than the top hitters on the slate, but he carries essentially just as much upside. The Heroes outfielder is slashing an excellent .346/.407/.550 for the season, and he's punished SK pitching this season for a .446 average (25-for-56) with six doubles, three homers and 21 RBI across 13 games. Lee also checks in swinging one of the hottest bats in the KBO, as evidenced by his .429 average, six XBH and seven RBI over his last 10 games.

Baek Ho Kang ($5,000) carries a .319/.398/.525 slash line that's partly comprised of 46 XBH (including 18 homers) and 69 RBI over 105 games. Kang brings a successful history against LG into the matchup as well, having posted a .314 average (11-for-35) and .980 OPS with five doubles, two home runs and five RBI over eight games. He also has a good matchup against Twins starter Min Ho Lee, who's allowed a 6.10 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and .312 BAA over 41.1 road innings this season.

Hyung Jong Lee ($4,300) is a very good play on the other side of the Twins-Wiz matchup, as the outfielder comes at a very reasonable salary for a player that boasts a .315 average and 1.002 OPS on the season, along with 14 doubles, two triples, 14 homers and 39 RBI over 59 games. Lee is hitting an impressive .333 with runners in scoring position this season as well, and he's been an exceptional road performer with a .364/.427/.686 line that's partly comprised of 19 XBH and 21 RBI over a 32-game sample.

ALSO CONSIDER: Eui Ji Yang ($6,000); Sung Bum Na ($6,000); Jose Fernandez ($5,900); Mel Rojas ($5,900); Ha Seong Kim ($5,800); Jae Gyun Hwang ($5,400); Hyun Soo Kim ($5,100)

Bargain Bats

Ah Seop Son ($4,000) has seemingly been underpriced all season, as he sports a .351/.411/.490 line with a whopping 34 doubles, nine home runs and 70 RBI (116 games). The elevated RBI tally is the byproduct of an outstanding .348 average with runners in scoring position, and he's boasting a .365/.419/.514 slash with six homers and 41 RBI across 58 home contests. Son also checks in with a red-hot bat, one that's led to a .386/.429/.591 line and average of 11.6 DK points per contest over the last 10 games.

Ji Wan Na ($3,500) is actually facing one of my pitching recommendations -- Alcantara -- but that, along with the fact he checks in slumping to the tune of a .156 average over the last 10 games, makes him an interesting larger-field tournament play. Despite the recent struggles, Na still has a solid .289/.392/.448 line with 15 homers and 81 RBI over 114 games this season, and he's hitting .350 with runners in scoring position on the campaign. Na has also enjoyed success against Doosan pitching this season, posting a .385 average (15-for-39) over 11 games.

ALSO CONSIDER: Jae Il Oh ($3,900); Dae Ho Lee ($3,800); Jeong Dae Bae ($3,800)

Stacks to Consider

Heroes vs. Young Woo Jo: Hye Sung Kim ($5,300); Keon Chang Seo ($4,800); Jung Hoo Lee ($5,700); Ha Seong Kim ($5,800)

Jo checks in with an elevated 5.22 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and .300 BAA over 60.1 innings this season, and he's yielded a .303 opponent average in 15 home starts. Meanwhile, the Heroes are averaging a solid 5.4 runs per game, have slugged 115 homers in 126 games and carry a strong .273 team batting average

Kim starts off the stack with a .292/.346/.419 slash and a well-balanced stat line of 36 XBH, 58 RBI and 22 stolen bases, along with an average of 8.1 DK points per away game.

Seo checks in with an outstanding .395 on-base percentage, partly the result of his 78 walks and modest 49 strikeouts over 522 plate appearances. The veteran has been just as much a stolen-base threat as his teammate Kim, as he's swiped 23 bags in his own right. Seo has also posted a .333 average in 12 games against SK pitching, as well as a .382 average and nine RBI over the last 10 games.

Lee's positive attributes were already discussed in his entry earlier, while Ha Seong Kim makes for an excellent way to round out the stack. The 24-year-old slugger did sit out Thursday's game with what is believed to be a minor hamstring strain, so make sure he's in the lineup Friday. If he is, he makes for one of the highest-upside pieces on the slate, considering his .304/.396/.522 line, 27 homers, 99 RBI and .317 average with runners in scoring position.

Dinos vs. Chae Heung Choi: Eui Ji Yang ($6,000); Sung Bum Na ($6,000); Suk Min Park ($3,900); Jin Sung Kang ($4,200)

Choi does have a solid 8-6 record and 4.14 ERA, but he's been more hittable on the road with a 4.47 ERA and was knocked around in his only other encounter with the Dinos this season, giving up seven runs (five earned) over four innings. In turn, NC is still averaging a KBO-high 6.3 runs and 10.4 hits per game and have hit a league-high 151 homers.

The stack is firmly divided between the two priciest hitters and two bargain bats, with Yang getting us started. The Dinos catcher is now up to 24 homers and 103 RBI on the campaign, eye-popping numbers when considering they've come over 106 games. He's hitting an elite .442 with runners in scoring position as well and has compiled 61 of his RBI over 52 home games.

Na is next in play despite the same handed matchup, as his .329/.400/.623 line with 62 XBH (including 30 homers) and 100 RBI warrant him consideration in any scenario. Na may arguably be doing some of his best work in an MVP-caliber season right now as well, considering his .500 average (15-for-30), four doubles, one homer and eight RBI in the last 10 contests.

Park gives you some nice salary relief and carries a very reasonable price for a player slashing .291/.421/.435 for the season, and that offers some nice pop with 12 doubles and 11 homers. He's been at his best at home (.331/.468/.538 line over 58 games) and has pounded Samsung pitching for a .381 average (8-for-21) in eight games this season.

Finally, Kang offers the numbers and upside of a higher-salaried player, as he comes into Friday's action with a .320/.357/.494 line with 21 doubles, 12 homers, 61 RBI and even eight steals. His recent struggles (.172 average over the last 10 contests) could make him less rostered than usual, but he's been a terror at home all season with a .348/.383/.590 slash, 21 XBH and 38 RBI over 49 games.