This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
Kia Tigers (8-7) at SK Wyverns (2-12)
Friday, May 22, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected starters
LHP Hyun Jong Yang (2-1, 4.80 ERA) vs RHP Joo Han Kim (0-2, 45.00 ERA)
Game Preview
The Wyverns have undoubtedly been the league's worst team this season and enter this game in last place with a 2-12 record. They are coming off a heartbreaking 10-inning loss to the Kiwoom Heroes on Thursday, and it seems like they may remain bottom feeders for quite some time. The Tigers, on the other hand, seem to be on the rise as they head into this contest on a three-game winning streak following Thursday's 6-1 victory over the Lotte Giants. The Tigers will aim to extend that streak by sending Hyun Jong Yang to the mound. The 32-year-old lefty is coming off back-to-back quality starts in his last two outings. The Wyverns will counter with Joo Han Kim, who has struggled mightily this season. He's allowed five runs in just one inning of work, split across three relief appearances.
Injuries
Young Seok Jang – Tigers – Out – Not Injury Related
May 17 - Jang was removed from KIA's first-group entry Saturday, according to OSEN. Jang joined KIA over the offseason after appearing in a career-high 119 games with Kiwoom a year a go, but he posted just a .470 OPS through his new team's first 10 games, so he was moved to the club's second-team roster for the time being.
Joo Chan Kim – Tigers –
Kia Tigers (8-7) at SK Wyverns (2-12)
Friday, May 22, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected starters
LHP Hyun Jong Yang (2-1, 4.80 ERA) vs RHP Joo Han Kim (0-2, 45.00 ERA)
Game Preview
The Wyverns have undoubtedly been the league's worst team this season and enter this game in last place with a 2-12 record. They are coming off a heartbreaking 10-inning loss to the Kiwoom Heroes on Thursday, and it seems like they may remain bottom feeders for quite some time. The Tigers, on the other hand, seem to be on the rise as they head into this contest on a three-game winning streak following Thursday's 6-1 victory over the Lotte Giants. The Tigers will aim to extend that streak by sending Hyun Jong Yang to the mound. The 32-year-old lefty is coming off back-to-back quality starts in his last two outings. The Wyverns will counter with Joo Han Kim, who has struggled mightily this season. He's allowed five runs in just one inning of work, split across three relief appearances.
Injuries
Young Seok Jang – Tigers – Out – Not Injury Related
May 17 - Jang was removed from KIA's first-group entry Saturday, according to OSEN. Jang joined KIA over the offseason after appearing in a career-high 119 games with Kiwoom a year a go, but he posted just a .470 OPS through his new team's first 10 games, so he was moved to the club's second-team roster for the time being.
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.
Tae In Chae – Wyverns – 10-Day IL – Ribs
5/12 3:33 PM IST - Chae will be out six weeks with a right intercostal injury, KBO analyst Jin-Hyeok Jang reports. Chae has not played frequently for SK this season, but the club will be a bit thin at first base until he recovers from his injury. They should be just fine in his absence, though, as fellow first baseman Jamie Romak has started every game at the position to date.
Nick Kingham – Wyverns – 10-Day IL – Elbow
5/21 5:05 PM IST - Kingham (elbow) is expected to miss at least two more starts, Jeeho Yoo of the Yonhap News Agency reports. The extent of Kingham's injury is uncertain, but it's looking like he will be sidelined at least until some point in June. The Wyverns have not yet announced who will take the ball next time Kingham's spot in the rotation comes up.
Jong Wook Ko – Wyverns – Out – Ankle
5/14 2:52 PM IST - Ko (ankle) is expected to miss about two weeks, Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net reports. Ko appeared to roll his ankle while catching a flyball early in Wednesday's game. He has been removed from the active roster. Soo Kwang Noh replaced Ko in left field Wednesday, and the Wyverns also have Eui Yoon Jeong and Kang Min Kim at their disposal in the outfield.
Jae Won Lee – Wyverns – 10-Day IL – Thumb
5/7 9:49 PM IST - Lee exited Thursday's 8-4 loss to Hanwha with a fractured right thumb, Jeeho Yoo of the Yonhap News Agency reports. SK Wyverns has yet to announce a timeline for Lee's return. Lee was hitless in his first two at-bats before he sustained the injury when he was hit by a pitch in his third plate appearance of the day. SK Wyverns will presumably send Lee in for more tests to determine whether surgery is necessary, but even if he avoids a procedure, he appears likely to miss time on account of the injury. Lee's expected absence further thins a weak KBO catcher pool in which the 32-year-old stood out as one of the top fantasy options coming off a 12-homer, 75-RBI 2019 season. Hyun-seok Lee replaced Jae-won in Thursday's game and would presumably be in store for regular work behind the dish while the latter is sidelined.
Kia Tigers Expected Lineup:
SP - Hyun Jong Yang
1. Chan Ho Park
2. Sun Bin Kim
5. Ji Wan Na
7. Dae In Hwang
8. Joo Hwan Na
SK Wyverns Expected Lineup:
SP - Joo Han Kim
1. Kang Min Kim
3. Jamie Romak
4. Dong Min Han
5. Jeong Choi
6. Tae Hyeok Nam
7. Hong Gu Lee
9. Hyun Jeong
Top picks:
Preston Tucker, Tigers: Tucker remains one of the league's premier offensive forces, and he could be in line for a huge day against a struggling pitcher on league's worst team. Tucker enters this matchup on the heels of a seven-game hitting streak. During that stretch, he's hitting .464 with a 1.393 OPS, two home runs and nine RBI.
Sun Bin Kim, Tigers: The star shortstop is yet to go yard this season, but he has never been much of a power hitter, managing just three home runs in 394 at-bats in 2019. He continues to get on base at an excellent clip, however, posting a .424 OBP through his first 66 plate appearances. He enters this game on a three-game hitting streak.
Dong Min Han, Wyverns: Han has been the lone reliable source of offense on a struggling Wyverns lineup, and he continues to produce on a steady basis. He went 2-for-5 with a homer Thursday, extending his hitting streak to five games. He's hit .421 over that stretch.
Hyun Jong Yang, Tigers: Yang has won each of his last two starts, striking out 10 and walking just three across 12.0 innings of work during that span. He could be a strong option considering the Wyverns bat for .237 as a team in 2020, the league's second-worst mark.
Captaincy Options:
2. Sun Bin Kim
3. Dong Min Han
Dream11 Team
P – Hyun Jong Yang
C – Hong Gu Lee
IF – Sun Bin Kim (VC)
IF – Chang Pyung Kim
IF – Chan Ho Park
IF – Hyun Jeong
OF – Preston Tucker (C)
OF – Dong Min Han
OF – Hyoung Woo Choi
