This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
Doosan Bears (19-10) at NC Dinos (23-6)
Tuesday, June 9, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Jo Je-Yeong (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs LHP Choi Sung-young (0-0, 5.14 ERA)
Game Preview
This series looks like the best in the league thus far, as the second-place Bears, who have reached five straight Korean Series, travel to meet the league-leading Dinos, who have dominated the competition in just about every category this season. The Dinos have scored a run per game more than any other team thus far while also leading the league in runs allowed, helping them outscore their opponents by an incredible 3.3 runs per game on the year. The Bears, meanwhile, have the league's second-best offense, but that's been offset by the league's second-worst pitching staff, so they've scored just a single run more than their opponents on the season despite their strong record. Tuesday's series opener has the potential to be a very high-scoring game, as neither pitcher is very trustworthy. The Bears' 19-year-old righty Jo Je-Yeong has been handed a rather unfair assignment against the league's best offense in his KBO debut. He hasn't looked good in 15 innings in the Futures League this season, allowing nine runs while walking as many batters as he's struck out (10). The Dinos will turn to 23-year-old lefty Choi Sung-young, who's struck out just two batters in seven innings this season and who owns a career 5.04 ERA in parts of five KBO seasons.
Injuries
Hur Kyoung-min, Bears - Out -
Doosan Bears (19-10) at NC Dinos (23-6)
Tuesday, June 9, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Jo Je-Yeong (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs LHP Choi Sung-young (0-0, 5.14 ERA)
Game Preview
This series looks like the best in the league thus far, as the second-place Bears, who have reached five straight Korean Series, travel to meet the league-leading Dinos, who have dominated the competition in just about every category this season. The Dinos have scored a run per game more than any other team thus far while also leading the league in runs allowed, helping them outscore their opponents by an incredible 3.3 runs per game on the year. The Bears, meanwhile, have the league's second-best offense, but that's been offset by the league's second-worst pitching staff, so they've scored just a single run more than their opponents on the season despite their strong record. Tuesday's series opener has the potential to be a very high-scoring game, as neither pitcher is very trustworthy. The Bears' 19-year-old righty Jo Je-Yeong has been handed a rather unfair assignment against the league's best offense in his KBO debut. He hasn't looked good in 15 innings in the Futures League this season, allowing nine runs while walking as many batters as he's struck out (10). The Dinos will turn to 23-year-old lefty Choi Sung-young, who's struck out just two batters in seven innings this season and who owns a career 5.04 ERA in parts of five KBO seasons.
Injuries
Hur Kyoung-min, Bears - Out - Finger
June 4 - Heo will miss 1-to-2 weeks with a fracture in his right little finger, according to Tae Woo Kim of SpoTV. Heo was a late scratch from Wednesday's lineup because of his injury, and he will now miss several more games for the same reason.
Jung Soo-bin, Bears - Day-To-Day - Foot
June 7 - Jung (foot) went 1-for-2 off the bench in Sunday's victory over the Tigers. Jung's foot injury prevented him from starting Sunday for the fourth day in a row, but he felt good enough to enter in the sixth inning and remain in the game the rest of the way. With a team off day coming up, Jung should have a chance to rejoin the starting lineup in Doosan's next game Tuesday.
Oh Jae-won, Bears - 10-Day IL - Hamstring
June 7 - Oh's hamstring injury is expected to keep him out for a significant period of time, Daniel Kim of DKTV reports. Oh suffered the injury while running the bases Friday against the Tigers. The exact nature and severity of the injury should become clearer following an examination Monday, though the Bears are evidently concerned that he'll miss an extended period. Choi Joo-hwan moved back to second base in his absence Saturday, opening up the hot corner for Ryu Ji-hyuk.
Kim Joon-wan, Dinos - 10-Day IL - Side
June 1 - Kim felt soreness in his right side last week, according to OSEN, and was placed on the injured list. It's not clear how long Kim will be sidelined, but the Dinos' reserve outfielder has not played since May 28 and will apparently miss more time. Kim Sung-wook was added to the roster in Kim Joon-wan's place.
Mo Chang-min, Dinos - 10-Day IL - Shoulder
June 2 - Mo (shoulder) played in a Futures League game Tuesday, according to chosun.com. Mo has missed more time than expected because of his injury, but his absence is on the verge of ending. It remains to be seen exactly when Mo will be activated, but when he is, the Dinos will have to figure out how to get both him and the red-hot Kang Jin-sung into the lineup.
Park Min-woo, Dinos - Day-To-Day - Finger
June 8 - Park suffered a minor injury to a finger on his left hand Sunday in the Dinos' 8-2 win over the Eagles, Rok Kim Young of The Chosun Ilbo reports. Park suffered the injury when he retreated to first base on a pickoff attempt and had his hand stepped on by a defender's spike. He was able to tape up the injured finger and finish the game with a base hit and a walk across his six plate appearances. The expectation is that Park will remain available for Tuesday's series opener versus the Bears, but those planning on using him in DFS will want to confirm that he's in the NC lineup.
Bears Expected Lineup
P Jo Je-Yeong
1. Park Kun-woo
3. Oh Jae-il
4. Kim Jae-hwan
5. Choi Joo-hwan
6. Park Se-hyuk
7. Kim Jae-ho
8. Kwon Min-seok
9. Jung Soo-bin
Dinos Expected Lineup
P Choi Sung-young
1. Park Min-woo
2. Lee Myung-gi
3. Na Sung-bum
4. Yang Eui-ji
5. Park Suk-min
6. Kang Jin-sung
7. No Jin-hyuk
9. Kwon Hee-dong
Top Picks
Choi Sung-young, Dinos: Neither pitcher inspires much, if any, confidence in this one, as neither has much of a track record and both will be facing one of the league's top two offenses. I'll take the pitcher who at least has some KBO experience and will be facing the league's second-best lineup rather than the guy who looked bad even in the minor leagues and who will be stuck facing the best offense in the league.
Na Sung-bum, Dinos: Na is one of the best hitters in the KBO and a worthy captain choice in any game involving the Dinos, let alone one in which he'll get to face a shaky rookie. He's hitting .336 on the season and ranks second in the league with 10 home runs.
Kang Jin-sung, Dinos: Kang remains wildly underpriced at just seven credits. He'd accomplished next to nothing prior to this season but has been on an absurd tear all year, hitting .468 with seven homers and 27 RBI.
Jose Fernandez, Bears: Fernandez bats left-handed and is thus at a slight advantage against Choi, but that's true of all of the Bears' best hitters, so he still makes for the best captain choice for a Bears-based lineup. Last year's hits leader already leads the league by five in that category, as he's hitting .417 with five homers and 27 RBI on the season.
Captaincy Options
1. Na Sung-bum
2. Kang Jin-sung
Dream11 Team
P Choi Sung-young
C Yang Eui-ji
IF Park Min-woo
IF Kim Jae-ho
OF Na Sung-bum (C)
OF Park Kun-woo
OF Lee Myung-gi
OF Kang Jin-sung (VC)
