This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
Lotte Giants (11-12) at Kia Tigers (12-12)
Tuesday, June 2, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected starters
RHP Se Woong Park (0-3, 6.50 ERA) vs RHP Ki Young Im (1-3, 3.86 ERA)
Game Preview
The Giants and the Tigers are separated by just half a game in the standings and, at least on paper, this game seems to be a very evenly-matched contest. However, the Tigers have a huge advantage in the pitching department due to the presence of Ki Young Im. The 27-year-old right-hander is having a strong season with a 3.86 ERA and a career-best 1.14 WHIP. He's allowed three of fewer earned runs in each of his last three outings. For their part, the Giants will send Se Woong Park to the mound. He owns a 12:11 K:BB ratio in 18 innings and has allowed at least three earned runs in three of his last four outings, including four in just 4.1 innings in his previous start.
Injuries
Ho Ryung Kim – Tigers – Out – Back
May 26 - Kim, who has been sidelined all season with a back injury, played five innings Tuesday in a game with the Tigers' Futures League affiliate, Jin-Hee Kim of The Chosun Ilbo reports. The 28-year-old outfielder looks to be healthy again and appears ready for his first KBO action since the 2017 season, when he appeared in 98 games for the Tigers and slashed .267/.347/.389 over 105 plate appearances. All three of Kia's everyday outfielders are currently healthy, so it
Lotte Giants (11-12) at Kia Tigers (12-12)
Tuesday, June 2, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected starters
RHP Se Woong Park (0-3, 6.50 ERA) vs RHP Ki Young Im (1-3, 3.86 ERA)
Game Preview
The Giants and the Tigers are separated by just half a game in the standings and, at least on paper, this game seems to be a very evenly-matched contest. However, the Tigers have a huge advantage in the pitching department due to the presence of Ki Young Im. The 27-year-old right-hander is having a strong season with a 3.86 ERA and a career-best 1.14 WHIP. He's allowed three of fewer earned runs in each of his last three outings. For their part, the Giants will send Se Woong Park to the mound. He owns a 12:11 K:BB ratio in 18 innings and has allowed at least three earned runs in three of his last four outings, including four in just 4.1 innings in his previous start.
Injuries
Ho Ryung Kim – Tigers – Out – Back
May 26 - Kim, who has been sidelined all season with a back injury, played five innings Tuesday in a game with the Tigers' Futures League affiliate, Jin-Hee Kim of The Chosun Ilbo reports. The 28-year-old outfielder looks to be healthy again and appears ready for his first KBO action since the 2017 season, when he appeared in 98 games for the Tigers and slashed .267/.347/.389 over 105 plate appearances. All three of Kia's everyday outfielders are currently healthy, so it may take an injury before the Tigers choose to move Kim up to the active roster.
Joo Chan Kim – Tigers – Out – Thigh
May 17 - Kim (thigh) has resumed playing in Futures League games, according to chosun.com. Kim underwent surgery on his thigh last December and needed at least four months to recover, per ohmynews.com, but he is nearing the end of the process. The 39-year-old's OPS fell nearly 200 points last year from the year before, but whenever he is deemed ready to play, he will at least give manager Matt Williams another trusted hitter on the roster.
Chang-jin Lee – Tigers – Out – Back
May 26 - Tigers manager Matt Williams said Tuesday that Lee (back) has resumed hitting on the field, Jin-Hee Kim of The Chosun Ilbo reports. Lee has been sidelined since February due to a recurring disc issue in his back, but he appears to have made substantial progress over the past three months. Williams noted that Lee will still have to go through full defensive drills before he's ready for game action, with the 29-year-old most likely headed for the Futures League to get some competitive at-bats under his belt. Lee handled an everyday role for Kia in the 2019 season, slashing .270/.367/.382 with six home runs and eight stolen bases across 470 plate appearances.
Hoon Jeong – Giants – 10-Day IL – Abdomen
May 18 - Lotte announced Monday that Jeong would be sidelined for at least four weeks due to a ruptured left abdominal muscle, Sang-Kyung Park of The Chosun Ilbo reports. Jeong didn't appear in either of the Giants' past two games, and the injury now looks to be the cause of both of those absences. He'll undergo regular treatment and rehab until at least mid-June before the Giants determine when he'll be ready to return to game action. Jeong had primarily served as a designated hitter for Lotte this season, batting .367 with a home run, two doubles and seven RBI through eight games.
Seung Heon Lee – Giants – 10-Day IL - Forehead
May 18 - Lee relayed Monday that he believes he'll avoid surgery after he was diagnosed with a microfracture of his forehead following his removal from Sunday's 9-4 loss to the Eagles, Sang-Kyung Park of The Chosun Ilbo reports. Making his season debut for Lotte, Lee was pulled in the third inning after being struck in the head by a comebacker. He was quickly sent to a hospital to address the injury, and the 21-year-old is optimistic that he'll avoid a long-term absence. Lee acknowledged that he'll undergo an additional evaluation later Monday and is expected to remain hospitalized for about 5-to-7 days before a potential timeline for his return is established. The Giants are expected to return Adrian Sampson (personal) to the rotation later this week or early next week, so Lee wasn't expected to continue making regular starts for Lotte beyond his turn Sunday.
Lotte Giants Expected Lineup:
SP – Se Woong Park
2. Jun Woo Jeon
3. Ah Seop Son
4. Dae-Ho Lee
5. Chi Hong An
7. Dong Hee Han
8. Bo Geun Jung
9. Bon Gi Shin
Kia Tigers Expected Lineup:
SP - Ki Young Im
1. Chan Ho Park
2. Sun Bin Kim
5. Ji Wan Na
6. Min Sang Yoo
7. Joo Hwan Na
Top picks:
Sun Bin Kim, Tigers: The second baseman collected eight hits in 19 at-bats last week, good for a .421 average and a .950 OPS. He has been very consistent all year long and enters this matchup with a .349 average and a .859 OPS. He's yet to go deep, but power has never been a big part of his game. He instead provides plenty of value with excellent contact and on-base skills.
Preston Tucker, Tigers: Tucker got off to a strong start this season, but it's safe to say he has not been able to sustain that blistering run of form over the last few weeks. He is hitting for .186 with a .541 OPS over his last 10 games, but he is too good of a hitter to keep playing like this for a prolonged period of time.
Ki Young Im, Tigers: It's only been four starts, but Im is posting his best numbers since 2017. He owns a 3.86 ERA with a career-best 1.14 WHIP through his first four starts this year. He's allowed three of fewer earned runs in each of his last three outings, meaning he enters this game in a good run of form.
Dae-Ho Lee, Giants: Lee represents the Giants' best offensive weapon. He enters this game riding a seven-game hitting streak and found success in his previous series against the Tigers, grabbing four hits in 10 at-bats.
Captaincy Options:
1. Sun Bin Kim
3. Ki Young Im
Dream11 Team
P – Ki Young Im
C – Bo Geun Jung
IF – Sun Bin Kim (C)
IF – Dae-Ho Lee
IF – Yoon Ho Hwang
OF – Preston Tucker (VC)
OF – Ji Wan Na
OF – Hyung Woo Choi
OF – Jae Hyun Choo
