This article is part of our DraftKings KBO series.
Thursday's five-game slate sets up quite interestingly, as there's a more solid group of pitchers taking the hill than usual, yet still some opportunities for hitters to thrive. Additionally, there's one game that particularly stands out to me in terms of a potential offensive explosion, and that will certainly be reflected in several of our selections.
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 recommend two stacks that I trust the most to potentially string some above-average offensive numbers together and pay off for you in tournaments.
Pitchers
Andrew Suarez ($10,000) disappointed his last time out, but the stage sets up well for a resurgence Thursday. The left-hander faces a Landers team that does have power, but that's also averaging the fourth-fewest runs (5.1) and hits (8.6) per game, along with the fourth-lowest team batting average (.253). Suarez has also been effective against SSG twice already this season, posting a 1.64 ERA, .214 BAA and average of 18.1 DK points per contest across 11 innings. Suarez has been a bit more hittable on the road, but he's still averaging 19.2 DK points per away start and allowing just a .225 average across 37 frames.
Ariel Miranda ($8,900) has posted 20.2 to 31.3 DK points in his last five starts, posting a 2.10 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 10.2 K/9 and 39:8 K:BB across the 34.1 innings in that span. The left-hander has had some trouble with the long ball (1.1 HR/9), yet he's also facing a Kiwoom team that he tallied 27.3 DK points against in his one prior encounter with this season and that's slugged the third-fewest homers (42) in the KBO while also posting a pedestrian .257 team batting average.
ALSO CONSIDER: Tae In Won ($8,400)
Top Targets
Eui Ji Yang ($5,800) continues to tear up pitching across the league, as he walks into Thursday's game with a .350 average, 1.123 OPS, 14 doubles, one triple, 17 home runs and 62 RBI across 63 games. The slugging backstop owns a 1.092 OPS and average of 11 DK points on the road as well, and he's also tormented Lotte pitching for a .346 average, 1.164 OPS and three homers over eight contests. Opposing starter Enderson Franco also enhances Yang's case, as he's pitched to an ugly 6.51 ERA and 1.58 WHIP across eight home starts.
Jose Fernandez ($5,400) owns a .322 average, .885 OPS and average of 8.8 DK points in 31 home games, a span during which he's hit six of his nine homers as well. Fernandez has also been frequently successful against Heroes pitching, furnishing a .313/.425/.500 slash line and average of 10.5 DK points across eight games. The veteran is swinging a hot bat, as he's posted a .359 average and 10 RBI over his last 10 contests. Meanwhile, Kiwoom starter Woo Jin An makes for a good target as well, as he owns a 2-7 mark and has given up seven of his nine homers on the road.
Hoon Jung ($5,200) is averaging 9.5 DK points per game, with that figure bumping up to 10.7 when split out for home contests. Jung boasts a .363/.447/.611 slash line with 16 XBH across 31 home games, and he's wielding a blistering bat over the last 10 games. The veteran owns a .405 average, one double, three home runs and seven RBI over the last 10 contests, leading to an average of 11.4 DK points during that span. Opposing starter Myung Gi Song makes for an ideal target as well, as he owns a 5.17 ERA and 1.53 WHIP on the season, and he's pitched to a .471 BAA, 12.27 ERA and 2.59 WHIP across 7.1 innings in two prior starts versus Lotte.
Bargain Bats
Jung Dae Bae ($4,100) has been struggling of late, which could certainly make him lower rostered than usual. However, the veteran still owns a solid .281 average and .385 on-base percentage for the season, and he boasts a .364 OBP across eight games versus Kia this season. Bae could be in a good position to break out of his recent funk against Kia starter Joong Hyun Yoon, who's pitched mostly in relief and has already allowed three home runs in 19 innings.
Ah Seop Son ($3,700) carries a very appealing salary for a player who's slashing .304/.381/.362 with 12 XBH and 27 RBI. The veteran is averaging 11.3 DK points over the last 10 games as well on the strength of a .436 average and 1.155 OPS during that span. Son has 19 of his 27 RBI on the season at home as well, and he's in position to benefit from the same matchup against Song that his teammate Jung will.
Stacks to Consider
Dinos vs. Enderson Franco: Sung Bum Na ($5,600); Eui Ji Yang ($5,800); Aaron Altherr ($5,500); Sok Min Park ($4,000)
Franco's vulnerabilities were already discussed in Yang's entry, and the Dinos come in averaging the most runs (5.6) and third-most hits (9.3) in the league while also carrying the second-highest team batting average (.275).
Na makes for an excellent stack starter, as he comes in averaging 9.4 DK points per contest. He's also carrying an .877 OPS and 10.4 DK points over eight games against Lotte pitching this season, and he's hitting .310 over his last 10 games.
Yang's appeal was already detailed earlier, while Altherr is averaging 8.8 DK points per game and sporting a .316 average and .972 OPS in 34 away contests. He's been mired in an extended slump with a .188 average, but his 18 DK points two games ago are a reminder of his massive ceiling.
Finally, Park is another member of the Dinos enduring a forgettable stretch, one that's seen him hit .103 over the last 10 games. However, he still sports an .877 OPS for the season, and he's been excellent on the road with a .329 average, .989 OPS and 22 RBO across 27 games.
Giants vs. Myung Gi Song: Ah Seop Son ($3,700); Dae Ho Lee ($5,100); Jun Woo Jeon ($5,100); Hoon Jung ($5,200)
Song's considerable weaknesses were discussed earlier, and the Giants are averaging 5.3 runs per game, along with the most hits (9.8) per contest and the second-highest team batting average (.275).
Son's attributes were already discussed earlier, while Lee checks in with a .305/.368/.500 slash line that includes 12 XBH and 32 RBI. He's been at his best at home, where he sports a .321 average and .893 OPS over a 23-game sample.
Jeon is slashing .320/.414/.422 that's partly constituted of 19 XBH and 39 RBI over 65 games. He's also hitting a jaw-dropping .441 with runners in scoring position, and he's been elite both at home and against Dinos pitching. Jeon owns a .341 average and .909 OPS in 34 home games, and he's tormented NC for a .452 average and 1.101 OPS in eight games.
