This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
Kiwoom Heroes (35-23) vs Kia Tigers (29-25)
Saturday, July 11th, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected Starters
LHP Seung Ho Lee (2-3, 5.33 ERA) vs RHP Aaron Brooks (3-3, 2.36 ERA)
Game Preview
Even though neither the Heroes nor the Tigers have come close to the level of dominance shown by the NC Dinos, who sit comfortably at the top of the standings, it's worth noting both teams have been playing at a strong level of late. The Heroes sit in second place of the standings and are 12 games over the .500 mark, but they've only gone 5-5 in their last 10 contests. The Tigers are in fourth place with a 29-25 record and have also gone 5-5 in that same 10-game stretch, but they enter this matchup on a two-game winning streak. They will try to push that run to three games when they send Aaron Brooks and his 2.36 ERA to the mound. The Heroes will counter with lefty Seung Ho Lee, who has a 5.33 ERA and just four quality starts in 11 outings to date.
Injuries
Tigers
Young Seok Jang - Out - Not Injury Related
6/8 10:29 PM IST - Jang was removed from KIA's first-team roster Monday, Ik-rae Choi of The Dong-A Ilbo reports. Jang was called up last week after spending several weeks with KIA's second team, but he is headed back down after going 1-for-11 (.091) last week. Recently-acquired Ji Hyuk Ryu is expected to take over as KIA's starting third baseman.
Kiwoom Heroes (35-23) vs Kia Tigers (29-25)
Saturday, July 11th, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected Starters
LHP Seung Ho Lee (2-3, 5.33 ERA) vs RHP Aaron Brooks (3-3, 2.36 ERA)
Game Preview
Even though neither the Heroes nor the Tigers have come close to the level of dominance shown by the NC Dinos, who sit comfortably at the top of the standings, it's worth noting both teams have been playing at a strong level of late. The Heroes sit in second place of the standings and are 12 games over the .500 mark, but they've only gone 5-5 in their last 10 contests. The Tigers are in fourth place with a 29-25 record and have also gone 5-5 in that same 10-game stretch, but they enter this matchup on a two-game winning streak. They will try to push that run to three games when they send Aaron Brooks and his 2.36 ERA to the mound. The Heroes will counter with lefty Seung Ho Lee, who has a 5.33 ERA and just four quality starts in 11 outings to date.
Injuries
Tigers
Young Seok Jang - Out - Not Injury Related
6/8 10:29 PM IST - Jang was removed from KIA's first-team roster Monday, Ik-rae Choi of The Dong-A Ilbo reports. Jang was called up last week after spending several weeks with KIA's second team, but he is headed back down after going 1-for-11 (.091) last week. Recently-acquired Ji Hyuk Ryu is expected to take over as KIA's starting third baseman.
Sun Bin Kim - 10-Day IL - Thigh
7/6 11:14 AM IST - Kim is expected to miss 2-to-3 weeks after he was diagnosed Monday with a left thigh strain and bruised right ankle, Su-jin Park of Star News reports. Kim was removed from Sunday's loss to the Dinos after he was injured while running the bases. His absence until at least late July is a tough break for the Tigers, as the second baseman was leading the KBO with a .378 batting average. Kim had previously missed time in June with a left quadriceps injury, so it wouldn't be a surprise if the Tigers view the three-week timeline as a more realistic date for his return now that he's dealing with two more lower-body issues.
Joo Chan Kim - 10-Day IL - Undisclosed
6/22 11:52 PM IST - Kim was removed from the Tigers' roster on Monday, Soo Jin Park of Star News reports. It's not clear if Kim was placed on the injured list or sent to the Futures League, as he went 6-for-18 (.333) after making his season debut June 7 but received just five at-bats over the last five games. One way or another, though, the 39-year-old will not be active heading into the latest week of KBO action.
Kyung Chan Moon - 10-Day IL - Elbow
7/7 3:02 PM IST - Moon was placed on the injured list with elbow pain Tuesday, according to chosun.com. Kia manager Matt Williams clarified it as a minor injury and that he moved the 27-year-old to the IL to give him more rest. The right-hander has recently struggled, allowing nine earned runs over his last two innings. Sang Hyun Jeon will take over as closer until Moon fully heals.
Ji Hyuk Ryu - Out - Hamstring
7/6 4:44 PM IST - Ryu (hamstring) will be re-evaluated in 2-to-3 weeks to determine a clearer timetable for his return, Su Jin Park of Star News reports. Kia will have the 26-year-old rehab and start physical training after an MRI revealed positive progress involving his injury. The team will likely look at the end of July or beginning of August for a potential return date. Ryu was traded to the Tigers from Doosan in June, playing just five games before getting injured.
Heroes
Jake Brigham - 10-Day IL - Elbow
7/9 2:00 PM IST - Brigham (elbow) could return to action Tuesday against the Dinos, Jeeho Yoo of the Yonhap News Agency reports. Brigham threw three innings in a Futures League game Wednesday without issue, which could be the final step in his nearly two-month recovery. Brigham's return should help stabilize a Kiwoom rotation that has struggled of late, outside of top starter Eric Jokisch.
Hyun Hee Han - 10-Day IL - Knee
7/9 2:55 PM IST - Han (knee) will rejoin the Heroes' first team Sunday, Jeeho Yoo of the Yonhap News Agency reports. According to Kiwoom manager Hyuk Son, the 27-year-old threw a promising and confidence-boosting bullpen session Tuesday. Han missed a week of action, but the Heroes plan to have him return for Sunday's game against Kia.
Young Gun Jo - Out - Undisclosed
7/3 12:08 AM IST - Jo recorded two outs and allowed three runs on three hits and a walk Thursday in the Heroes' 10-7 win over the Bears. He didn't factor into the decision in the come-from-behind victory. Jo hasn't had a long leash in any of his starts this season, but even by his standards, Thursday's outing was remarkably brief. The young right-hander gave Heroes manager Heuk Son little reason to stick with him, as Jo put five consecutive hitters on base before he was mercifully pulled. With Jake Brigham (elbow) and Hyun Hee Han (knee) sidelined, Jo may receive at least one or two more starts, but he'll likely be at risk at losing his rotation spot once the Heroes get one of their injured starters back.
Woong Bin Kim - 10-Day IL - Hamstring
6/8 9:38 PM IST - 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.
Young Joon Lee - Out - Back
7/9 2:38 PM IST - Lee was removed from the Heroes' roster Thursday due to a back injury, according to MBN. Lee felt soreness in his back after his last outing Wednesday, and it turns out Kiwoom will be without its setup man for at least a few days. Lee will undergo tests Friday to determine the extent of his injury.
Byung Wook Lim - 10-Day IL - Hamstring
5/17 10:12 AM IST - 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.
Addison Russell - Out - Not Injury Related
7/6 4:46 PM IST - Russell is scheduled to arrive in South Korea on Wednesday, Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News Agency reports. Once he arrives in the country, the 26-year-old will immediately be tested for COVID-19 and then quarantine for 14 days. Russell will be able to take batting practice at a house in South Korea while he's in self-isolation, but since he hasn't trained in a team structure since last September while he was still with MLB's Chicago Cubs, he'll need to play at least a few Futures League games before making his debut for the Heroes, who signed him June 19. Per Yoo, manager Son Hyuk said he expects Russell to be an option at both second base and shortstop once he's deemed ready to make his Kiwoom debut, likely in late July or early August.
Heroes' Expected Lineup
SP - Seung Ho Lee
1. Keon Chang Seo
2. Ha Seong Kim
3. Jung Hoo Lee
4. Byung Ho Park
5. Ji Young Lee
6. Dong Won Park
7. Jeong Hyeop Heo
8. Byung Woo Jeon
9. Joon Tae Park
Tigers' Expected Lineup
SP - Aaron Brooks
1. Chang Jin Lee
2. Preston Tucker
3. Hyung Woo Choi
4. Ji Wan Na
5. Min Sang Yoo
6. Joo Hwan Na
7. Seung Taek Han
8. Chan Ho Park
9. Jeong Yong Choi
Top Picks
Jung Hoo Lee, Heroes: Lee went 2-for-6 during Friday's contest against the Tigers and pushed his hitting streak to three games. One of the most consistent bats in Kiwoom's lineup, he is hitting .286 (10-for-35) with two homers and nine RBI across nine July games. He is hitting an excellent .357 with nine homers and 44 RBI in 2020.
Keon Chang Seo, Heroes: Seo went 4-for-5 with a double, walk and three runs scored in Friday's 9-8 loss to Kia. The veteran second baseman is 11-for-28 (.393) with eight runs scored through seven games facing Kia this season.
Preston Tucker, Tigers: Tucker went 3-for-6 with a solo home run, double and three RBI in Friday's 9-8 win against Kiwoom. He now has 14 homers in the season and while he ended June on a sour note, he seems to have bounced back in July – he has three homers and seven RBI in his last four contests.
Ji Wan Na, Tigers: Na is currently riding a three-game hitting streak and has notched two homers with seven RBI in that span, including a Grand Slam during July 9. Since missing one game on June 23, Na has gone 12-for-44 (.273) with two home runs and 11 RBI. He has also hit safely in four of his last five games.
Captaincy Options
Dream11 Team
P – Aaron Brooks
C – Ji Young Lee
IF – Keon Chang Seo (VC)
IF – Joo Hyung Kim
IF – Byung Woo Jeon
OF – Chang Jin Lee
OF – Jung Hoo Lee (C)
OF – Preston Tucker
OF – Ji Wan Na
