This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
Lotte Giants (6-2) at Hanwha Eagles (3-6)
Friday, May 15, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected starters
RHP Dan Straily (1-0, 1.42 ERA) vs RHP Ee Whan Kim (0-0, 1,80 ERA)
Game Preview
The Giants are coming off a 7-4 loss to the Doosan Bears the last time out, but they remain one of the top teams in the KBO this season thanks to their 6-2 record. Meanwhile, the Eagles took advantage of a four-run first inning to secure a 4-1 win over the Tigers. That win was just their third of the season, however, so they remain stuck near the bottom of the standings. The series opener will find Dan Straily going up against Ee Whan Kim. Kim allowed just one in the same span against the strong Heroes offense. The 19-year-old righty will have to be at his best once again if he wants to silence the strong Giants offense, as they've averaged 6.6 runs scored in their last five contests. Straily, on the other hand, will make his third start of the season and has allowed just two runs in 12.2 innings of work in 2020.
Injuries
Chad Bell – Eagles – Out - Elbow
Bell suffered elbow pain during a bullpen session a week ago and will be sidelined for the start of the season, Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net reports. At the time of the injury, Bell was projected to be out at least two weeks. He was a workhorse for the Hanwha Eagles last season, throwing
Lotte Giants (6-2) at Hanwha Eagles (3-6)
Friday, May 15, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected starters
RHP Dan Straily (1-0, 1.42 ERA) vs RHP Ee Whan Kim (0-0, 1,80 ERA)
Game Preview
The Giants are coming off a 7-4 loss to the Doosan Bears the last time out, but they remain one of the top teams in the KBO this season thanks to their 6-2 record. Meanwhile, the Eagles took advantage of a four-run first inning to secure a 4-1 win over the Tigers. That win was just their third of the season, however, so they remain stuck near the bottom of the standings. The series opener will find Dan Straily going up against Ee Whan Kim. Kim allowed just one in the same span against the strong Heroes offense. The 19-year-old righty will have to be at his best once again if he wants to silence the strong Giants offense, as they've averaged 6.6 runs scored in their last five contests. Straily, on the other hand, will make his third start of the season and has allowed just two runs in 12.2 innings of work in 2020.
Injuries
Chad Bell – Eagles – Out - Elbow
Bell suffered elbow pain during a bullpen session a week ago and will be sidelined for the start of the season, Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net reports. At the time of the injury, Bell was projected to be out at least two weeks. He was a workhorse for the Hanwha Eagles last season, throwing 177.1 innings while posting an 11-10 record with a 3.50 ERA, all on a team that went 58-86. This could be a pretty big blow for Hanwha if he's out a significant time. Warwick Saupold, the other foreign-born pitcher on Hanwha, will get the Opening Day start.
Yong-Kyu Lee – Eagles – Day-To-Day - Calf
Lee (calf) is expected to miss additional time after exiting Wednesday's game the Tigers, KBO analyst Jin-Hyeok Jang reports. Lee was taken out of Wednesday's game after being hit by a pitch on his left calf, and while the injury is not considered major, he will be out "a while." Jin Hyuk Jang will take Lee's place in center field in Thursday's contest.
Adrian Sampson – Giants – Out - Personal
Sampson (personal) is set to return to South Korea on Thursday, Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News Agency reports. Sampson left Lotte in late April to spend time with his ailing father in the United States, but he's now ready to rejoin the club for his first KBO season. Before debuting for the Giants, Sampson will have to self-quarantine for 14 days until he's allowed to report to the club. He appears on track to make his first start for Lotte before May comes to a close.
Lotte Giants Expected Lineup:
SP - Dan Straily
3. Ah Seop Son
4. Dae-Ho Lee
5. Chi Hong Ahn
6. Hoon Jeong
8. Dong Hee Han
9. Bo Geun Jung
Hanwha Eagles Expected Lineup:
SP - Ee Whan Kim
1. Jin Ho Jeong
2. Eun Won Jung
3. Jared Hoying
6. Tae-Kyun Kim
7. Ju Seok Ha
9. Yong-Kyu Lee
Top picks:
Ah Seop Son, Giants: Son went 1-for-2 with two walks on Thursday, pushing his hitting streak to three games. The veteran outfielder has hit safely in seven of Lotte's eight games this season and enters this matchup sporting a robust .407 average with a 1.069 OPS. He is poised to do damage against the talented but inexperienced Ee Whan Kim.
Dae-Ho Lee, Giants: Lee has gone 7-for-9 this week with two doubles, two RBI and one walk while striking out just once. He posted a perfect 4-for-4 performance Thursday and, just like Son, he's also hitting above the .400 mark. He owns a .414/.455/.655 slash line so far after hitting safely in six of Lotte's eight games to date.
Ee Whan Kim, Eagles: The Giants have been one of the best offenses in the KBO this season and there's no question Kim will have a tough time trying to slow them down. He was impressive in his season debut, however, and represents a low-cost alternative, costing just seven credits. He can be a low-risk, high-reward type of play if he repeats what he did in his previous start against the Heroes.
Jin Ho Jeong, Eagles: Jeong enters this contest riding a three-game hitting streak while hitting safely in all but two games of the current campaign. He only has one extra-base hit and one RBI on the season, but his business is to get on-base at a high clip, as evidenced by his impressive .371 OBP. He'll have plenty of chances to score as the Eagles' leadoff man.
Captaincy Options:
1. Ah Seop Son
2. Dae-Ho Lee
3. Ee Whan Kim
Dream11 Team
P – Ee Whan Kim
C – Jae Hoon Choi
IF – Dixon Machado
IF – Dae-Ho Lee (VC)
IF – Ju Seok Ha
IF – Chi Hong Ahn
OF – Ah Seop Son (C)
OF – Byung Heon Min
OF – Jin Ho Jeong
