This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
NC Dinos (17-3) at Samsung Lions (8-13)
Friday, May 28, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Drew Rucinski (3-0, 2.49 ERA) vs RHP Kim Dae-woo (0-1, 4.09 ERA)
Game Preview
These two teams opened the season against each other, with the Dinos sweeping the three-game series. Expect the league-leading Dinos to be favored over the eighth-place Lions in each game this time around, especially in Friday's series opener, given the respective quality of the teams' starting pitchers in this contest. The Dinos' Drew Rucinski was one of the best pitchers in the league last year, posting a 3.05 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in his KBO debut. He's been just as good or better in his second season in Korea, striking out 21.9 percent of opposing batters en route to a 2.49 ERA through his first four starts. The Lions' Kim Dae-woo doesn't have nearly the same reputation. He owns a career 6.00 in eight KBO seasons, spending most of his time in relief. His 4.09 ERA in 11 innings this year is perfectly adequate, but he's walked as many batters as he's struck out (seven). He'll be in for a tough time against the Dinos' second-ranked lineup at the league's most hitter-friendly park.
Injuries
Mo Chang-min, Dinos - 10-Day IL - Shoulder
May 12 - Mo will miss the next two weeks as a result of his shoulder injury, KBO Analyst Jin-Hyeok Jang reports. Mo sat out NC's last game Sunday after injuring his shoulder in the club's previous
NC Dinos (17-3) at Samsung Lions (8-13)
Friday, May 28, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Drew Rucinski (3-0, 2.49 ERA) vs RHP Kim Dae-woo (0-1, 4.09 ERA)
Game Preview
These two teams opened the season against each other, with the Dinos sweeping the three-game series. Expect the league-leading Dinos to be favored over the eighth-place Lions in each game this time around, especially in Friday's series opener, given the respective quality of the teams' starting pitchers in this contest. The Dinos' Drew Rucinski was one of the best pitchers in the league last year, posting a 3.05 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in his KBO debut. He's been just as good or better in his second season in Korea, striking out 21.9 percent of opposing batters en route to a 2.49 ERA through his first four starts. The Lions' Kim Dae-woo doesn't have nearly the same reputation. He owns a career 6.00 in eight KBO seasons, spending most of his time in relief. His 4.09 ERA in 11 innings this year is perfectly adequate, but he's walked as many batters as he's struck out (seven). He'll be in for a tough time against the Dinos' second-ranked lineup at the league's most hitter-friendly park.
Injuries
Mo Chang-min, Dinos - 10-Day IL - Shoulder
May 12 - Mo will miss the next two weeks as a result of his shoulder injury, KBO Analyst Jin-Hyeok Jang reports. Mo sat out NC's last game Sunday after injuring his shoulder in the club's previous game Friday, and it turns out he will miss extended time beyond that. Lee Won-jae, as well as another player or two, should see more action in Mo's absence.
Baek Jung-hyun, Lions - 10-Day IL - Calf
May 23 - Manager Sam Young Heo is uncertain when Baek (calf) will be ready to return to action, according to chosun.com. It has been nearly two weeks since Baek started his last game, and Heo's comments indicate Baek could be out at least until sometime in June. Samsung has had to get creative to fill Baek's spot in the rotation, and they will have to continue doing so until he is back on the mound.
Koo Ja-wook- 10-Day IL - Thigh
May 26 - Koo will be out four weeks with his left thigh injury, KBO analyst Jin-Hyeok Jang reports. The news regarding Koo's injury has gotten progressively worse, as he went from leaving a game with a sore thigh, to missing the next game altogether, to being removed from the roster and now being ruled out for a month. Koo has gotten off to a fast start this season, so his extended absence certainly won't help a Lions team looking to keep pace in the standings.
Lee Seong-gyu - Out - Head
May 16 - Lee was removed from Samsung's first-group entry Saturday, according to the team's official Twitter account. It's not certain why Lee was taken off the roster, but it likely has something to do with him taking a pitch off his helmet just a couple nights ago.
Dinos Expected Lineup
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
Lions Expected Lineup
P Kim Dae-woo
1. Kim Sang-su
2. Kim Ji-chan
3. Lee Hak-ju
4. Kim Dong-yeop
5. Lee Won-seok
6. Kim Heon-gon
8. Kang Min-ho
9. Park Chan-do
Top Picks
Drew Rucinski, Dinos: While the gap between Rucinski's price tag and that of his counterpart Kim Dae-woo is quite large (eight credits), the gap between the pair's talent level and the quality of the lineups they'll be facing is just as large. The Lions' lineup sits a mediocre sixth in runs per game even while occupying the league's most hitter-friendly home park. Rucinski makes for a worthy captain choice against that unimpressive unit.
Na Sung-bum, Dinos: Na has played well all season but has been on an absolute tear over his last five games, grabbing at least two hits in all five contests. He's hitting .647 with a pair of homers and eight RBI over that stretch.
Park Min-Woo, Dinos: Rucinski's high price tag means you'll need to find the right cheap Dinos to fill out your lineup around him. Leadoff man Park fills that need perfectly, as he costs just eight credits despite the fact that he's hitting .333 with 16 runs scored through his first 20 games.
Kim Dong-yeop, Lions: The Lions don't have many particularly inspiring captain options should you elect to build a Lions-focused squad, but Kim looks like the best of a mediocre bunch. He's hitting a respectable .265 and leads his team with four homers and 16 RBI.
Captaincy Options
2. Na Sung-bum
3. Yang Eui-ji
Dream11 Team
P Drew Rucinski (C)
C Yang Eui-ji
IF Lee Hak-ju
IF Park Min-woo
IF Kim Ji-chan
OF Na Sung-bum (VC)
OF Lee Myung-gi
OF Kim Dong-yeop
OF Kang Jin-sung
