This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
Kiwoom Heroes (18-13) at Samsung Lions (13-18)
Wednesday, June 10, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected Starters
LHP Eric Jokisch (5-0, 1.49 ERA) vs LHP Baek Jung-hyun (0-3, 10.29 ERA)
Game Preview
The Heroes took the first game of this three-game series Tuesday, winning 5-3 in a game in which the two teams' bullpens threw a combined 11 innings. The win was the Heroes' eighth in their last 10 games, pulling them to within a game and a half of the second-place Bears. Meanwhile, the Lions' loss means they've now gone 1-4 over their last five games, quickly reversing a run of good form which had seen them go 6-1 over their previous seven. The Heroes look like the heavy favorites in this one. They'll send American lefty Eric Jokisch to the mound, who's looked pretty clearly like the second-best pitcher in the league this season behind the Dinos' Koo Chang-mo. Jokisch has allowed a total of six earned runs in six starts this season, giving him a 1.49 ERA to go with his 0.94 WHIP. He already handled the Lions easily once this year, striking out seven and walking none while allowing zero earned runs in six innings back in mid-May. The Lions will turn to another lefty, Baek Jung-hyun, but the gap between their resumes this season could hardly be larger. Baek has allowed 23 runs in 14 innings this season, giving him an awful 10.29 ERA even after his seven unearned runs are removed.
Injuries
Heo Jeong-hyeop, Heroes -
Kiwoom Heroes (18-13) at Samsung Lions (13-18)
Wednesday, June 10, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected Starters
LHP Eric Jokisch (5-0, 1.49 ERA) vs LHP Baek Jung-hyun (0-3, 10.29 ERA)
Game Preview
The Heroes took the first game of this three-game series Tuesday, winning 5-3 in a game in which the two teams' bullpens threw a combined 11 innings. The win was the Heroes' eighth in their last 10 games, pulling them to within a game and a half of the second-place Bears. Meanwhile, the Lions' loss means they've now gone 1-4 over their last five games, quickly reversing a run of good form which had seen them go 6-1 over their previous seven. The Heroes look like the heavy favorites in this one. They'll send American lefty Eric Jokisch to the mound, who's looked pretty clearly like the second-best pitcher in the league this season behind the Dinos' Koo Chang-mo. Jokisch has allowed a total of six earned runs in six starts this season, giving him a 1.49 ERA to go with his 0.94 WHIP. He already handled the Lions easily once this year, striking out seven and walking none while allowing zero earned runs in six innings back in mid-May. The Lions will turn to another lefty, Baek Jung-hyun, but the gap between their resumes this season could hardly be larger. Baek has allowed 23 runs in 14 innings this season, giving him an awful 10.29 ERA even after his seven unearned runs are removed.
Injuries
Heo Jeong-hyeop, Heroes - Day-To-Day - Wrist
June 9 - Heo was pulled in the first inning of Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Lions with a bruised left wrist, Hyun-Seok Jeong of The Chosun Ilbo reports. Heo apparently picked up the injury while training ahead of the series opener, but the Heroes still included him in the lineup for Tuesday's game. However, Heo ended up being pulled after the top of the first, with Lee Taek-keun coming on to replace him. Heo was sent in for further examinations that revealed nothing more than a bruise, so he can be viewed as day-to-day heading into Wednesday's contest.
Kim Hye-sung, Heroes - Day-To-Day - Knee
June 9 - Kim (knee) is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against Samsung, according to mykbostats.com. The 21-year-old exited Sunday's game versus LG with an injury to his left knee, and he will miss at least one start. He does remain on the roster, so he will have a chance to return to the lineup Wednesday.
Kim Woong-bin, Heroes - Out - Hamstring
June 8 - Kim will miss 4-to-6 weeks with a left hamstring injury, Soo Jin Park of Star News reports. Kim missed the start of the season while recovering from a forearm injury, and he is now looking at another absence after injuring his leg Sunday.
Lim Byung-wook, Heroes - 10-Day IL - Hamstring
May 17 - Lim (hamstring) is expected to be sidelined 6-to-8 weeks, Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News reports. The 24-year-old went down during the second game of Saturday's doubleheader with a right hamstring injury, and he may end up spending two months on the injured list. Lim had a .278/.366/.389 slash line with four doubles and three stolen bases through 11 games.
Lee Won-seok, Lions - Out - Thumb
June 5 - The Lions removed Lee (thumb) from the first-team roster Friday, according to the team's official Twitter account. Lee bruised his right thumb in Thursday's loss to the Twins, and it turns out the injury will cost him more time. He will be able to rejoin the roster whenever he is healthy, but it remains to be seen when that will be.
Heroes Expected Lineup
1. Seo Keon-chang
2. Kim Ha-seong
3. Lee Jung-hoo
4. Park Byung-ho
5. Park Dong-won
6. Jeon Byung-woo
7. Kim Hye-sung
8. Heo Jeong-hyeop
9. Park Joon-tae
Lions Expected Lineup
P Baek Jung-hyun
1. Kim Sang-su
2. Kim Dong-yeop
3. Koo Ja-wook
5. Lee Sung-gyu
6. Park Chan-do
7. Lee Hak-ju
8. Kang Min-ho
9. Park Hae-min
Top Picks
Eric Jokisch, Heroes: You'll rarely find an easier pitcher choice than this one, as it's difficult to understate how much better Jokisch has been than his counterpart Baek Jung-hyun so far this season. Even if the gap between them was far larger than two credits, he'd still be the correct choice.
Kim Ha-seong, Heroes: The shortstop has rebounded from a poor start to hit .365 with four homers and three steals over his last 20 games. He can do a little bit of everything and should be in line for a big game batting out of the number two spot against a weak opposing pitcher.
Park Dong-won, Heroes: Park has been the best offensive catcher in the league this season and one of the best hitters at any position. He's tied for sixth in the league with seven homers and owns a .361 batting average.
Lee Jung-hoo, Heroes: Budget constraints led to me choosing the left-handed Lee over the right-handed Park Byung-ho for this team, but that could be the correct choice regardless of budget even with a lefty on the mound for the Lions. Lee is in the midst of a breakout season and is riding a 12-game hitting streak, hitting .404 over that stretch.
Captaincy Options
1. Eric Jokisch
2. Kim Ha-seong
3. Park Dong-won
Dream11 Team
P Eric Jokisch (C)
C Park Dong-won
IF Kim Ha-seong (VC)
IF Kim Hye-sung
IF Jeon Byung-woo
IF Kim Ji-chan
OF Lee Jung-hoo
OF Park Chan-do
OF Park Seung-gyu
