This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
Kiwoom Heroes (25-17) at LG Twins (25-16)
Tuesday, 23rd June, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected starters
RHP Won Tae Choi (2-3, 4.34 ERA) vs LHP Yun Sik Kim (0-0, 7.56 ERA)
Game Preview
Both the Heroes and the Twins sit in the top four spots in the standings, with both sharing an identical number of wins – 25 – while the Heroes have lost one more game. The two sides' recent form, however, shows the teams trending in opposite directions. The Heroes have gone 7-3 in their last nine contests following a five-game winning run, while the Twins followed up a four-game winning streak with a three-game losing skid. The Heroes will send out a solid pitcher in righty Won Tae Choi, who owns a strong 1.18 WHIP but a mediocre 4.34 ERA. The Twins will counter with lefty Yun Sik Kim, who's making his first career KBO start. At least on paper, the Heroes have the advantage in the pitching matchup.
Injuries
Woong Bin Kim, Heroes - 10-Day IL - 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.
Byung Wook Lim, 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
Kiwoom Heroes (25-17) at LG Twins (25-16)
Tuesday, 23rd June, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected starters
RHP Won Tae Choi (2-3, 4.34 ERA) vs LHP Yun Sik Kim (0-0, 7.56 ERA)
Game Preview
Both the Heroes and the Twins sit in the top four spots in the standings, with both sharing an identical number of wins – 25 – while the Heroes have lost one more game. The two sides' recent form, however, shows the teams trending in opposite directions. The Heroes have gone 7-3 in their last nine contests following a five-game winning run, while the Twins followed up a four-game winning streak with a three-game losing skid. The Heroes will send out a solid pitcher in righty Won Tae Choi, who owns a strong 1.18 WHIP but a mediocre 4.34 ERA. The Twins will counter with lefty Yun Sik Kim, who's making his first career KBO start. At least on paper, the Heroes have the advantage in the pitching matchup.
Injuries
Woong Bin Kim, Heroes - 10-Day IL - 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.
Byung Wook Lim, 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.
Addison Russell, Heroes - Out - Not Injury Related
June 22 - Russell, who agreed to a contract Friday with the Heroes, isn't expected to arrive in South Korea until mid-July, The Chosun Ilbo reports. Once the American infielder arrives in South Korea, he'll go through a KBO-mandated 14-day quarantine period before the Heroes plan to send him to their Futures League affiliate in late July. Since the 26-year-old hasn't been part of an organized team structure since being cut loose by MLB's Chicago Cubs in the fall, he could need several games in the Futures League to get his timing right at the plate, meaning he may not be ready to debut with the parent club until some point in early August. Once he gets acclimated to his new setting, Russell should settle into an everyday role for the Heroes at either second base or shortstop.
Eun Sung Chae, Twins - Out - Ankle
June 22 - Chae will miss 1-to-2 weeks with a sprained right ankle, Se Ho Yoon of Sports Seoul reports. Chae left Sunday's game in the ninth inning after injuring his ankle, and it turns out he will miss more time. He could be back before June comes to a close, but may not be back on the field until sometime next month.
Min Sung Kim, Twins - 10-Day IL - Thigh
June 15 - The Twins placed Kim (thigh) on the 10-day injured list Monday, Young-rock Kim of The Chosun Ilbo reports. The transaction comes as little surprise after a recent MRI revealed that Kim sustained a left adductor injury Sunday that will keep him sidelined for at least 2-to-3 weeks. The Twins also removed reliever Sang Gyu Lee from the active roster Monday and replaced him and Kim with reliever Sun Tae Han and outfielder Min-Su Jeon.
Hyung Jong Lee, Twins - Out - Hand
May 10 - Lee, who suffered a fractured wrist in a preseason game, is expected to return in late May or early June, Newsis News Agency reports. Lee broke the fifth metacarpal in his left hand, but he should be a big part of LG's offense when he returns after hitting .286 with 13 home runs and an .800 OPS last season. Yong-taik Park has received more playing time as a result of Lee's injury.
Kiwoom Heroes Expected Lineup:
SP - Won Tae Choi
2. Ha Seong Kim
3. Jung Hoo Lee
7. Hye Sung Kim
LG Twins Expected Lineup:
SP - Yun Sik Kim
2. Ji Hwan Oh
3. Hyun Soo Kim
6. Kang Nam Yoo
Top picks:
Jung Hoo Lee, Heroes: Lee has been the best hitter on the Heroes this season and has been even hotter lately, posting a .455/.550/.788 slash line with two homers and nine RBI in his last 10 contests. He's been quite good against the Twins this year, hitting .417 with a .440 on-base percentage.
Ha Seong Kim, Heroes: Kim hit safely in four of the Heroes' last five games and has produced strong numbers throughout the month of June, posting a .324 batting average with four home runs and 10 RBI. Like Lee, he's dominated Twins' pitching this year, hitting .391 with a .462 on-base percentage in 23 at-bats.
Roberto Ramos, Twins: Ramos is the best captain option for a Twins-based lineup but is worth trying to fit into a Heroes-based squad as well. The first baseman missed a few games earlier this month with an ankle injury, but he ended last week on a strong note with back-to-back multi-hit performances.
Won Tae Choi, Heroes: Choi has allowed three or fewer earned runs in four of his last five starts and has given up more than three earned runs just twice in eight outings this season. The Twins have a tough lineup, but Choi seems to be the more reliable of the two starters and is worth selecting despite his price (11 credits).
Captaincy Options:
1. Jung Hoo Lee
2. Ha Seong Kim
Dream11 Team
P – Won Tae Choi
C – Sung Woo Lee
IF – Ha Seong Kim (VC)
IF – Roberto Ramos
IF – Ho Young Son
IF – Joo Hyung Kim
IF – Keon Chang Seo
OF – Jung Hoo Lee (C)
OF – Joon Tae Park