This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
LG Twins (14-6) vs Kia Tigers (11-10)
Friday, May 29, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected starters
LHP Woo-chan Cha (2-2, 6.00 ERA) vs RHP Aaron Brooks (1-1, 3.28 ERA)
Game Preview
The Twins have one of the most powerful offenses in the league and enter this matchup on a sizzling four-game winning streak following their 3-0 shutout against the Eagles on Thursday. They currently sit in second place of the standings with a 14-6 mark, trailing only the league-leading NC Dinos. The Tigers, on the other hand, have been a model of inconsistency and enter this matchup on a two-game losing skid despite their winning record. They lost 6-5 to the Wiz in their previous contest. The Tigers will try to stop that run by sending Aaron Brooks to the mound. He's coming off a win in his previous outing after allowing three earned runs in 6.2 innings of work against the Wyverns. The Twins will counter with Woo-chan Cha, who has allowed nine earned runs in his past two starts, losing both.
Injuries
Sun Bin Kim – Tigers – Day-To-Day – Elbow
May 28 - Tigers manager Matt Williams said Kim was withheld from the lineup Thursday in Kia's 6-5 loss to the Wiz due to right elbow pain, Jin-Hee Kim of The Chosun Ilbo reports. Kim still ended up entering the game in the top of the eighth inning and drew a pinch-hit walk, suggesting his injury isn't a major concern. While Kim sat out the series finale,
LG Twins (14-6) vs Kia Tigers (11-10)
Friday, May 29, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected starters
LHP Woo-chan Cha (2-2, 6.00 ERA) vs RHP Aaron Brooks (1-1, 3.28 ERA)
Game Preview
The Twins have one of the most powerful offenses in the league and enter this matchup on a sizzling four-game winning streak following their 3-0 shutout against the Eagles on Thursday. They currently sit in second place of the standings with a 14-6 mark, trailing only the league-leading NC Dinos. The Tigers, on the other hand, have been a model of inconsistency and enter this matchup on a two-game losing skid despite their winning record. They lost 6-5 to the Wiz in their previous contest. The Tigers will try to stop that run by sending Aaron Brooks to the mound. He's coming off a win in his previous outing after allowing three earned runs in 6.2 innings of work against the Wyverns. The Twins will counter with Woo-chan Cha, who has allowed nine earned runs in his past two starts, losing both.
Injuries
Sun Bin Kim – Tigers – Day-To-Day – Elbow
May 28 - Tigers manager Matt Williams said Kim was withheld from the lineup Thursday in Kia's 6-5 loss to the Wiz due to right elbow pain, Jin-Hee Kim of The Chosun Ilbo reports. Kim still ended up entering the game in the top of the eighth inning and drew a pinch-hit walk, suggesting his injury isn't a major concern. While Kim sat out the series finale, double-play partner Chan Ho Park handled leadoff duties for the Tigers and went 1-for-5 with a run scored.
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.
Woo Seok Ko – Twins – 10-Day IL – Knee
May 18 - The Twins announced Sunday that Ko underwent arthroscopic surgery to address meniscus and MCL damage in his left knee, Jae-hyung Roh of The Chosun Ilbo reports. He's expected to be sidelined for at least three months while rehabbing from the procedure. After recording a save in one of his two appearances this season, Ko reported the knee injury to the club Thursday before he was sent in for further evaluation. The Twins' medical staff quickly determined that Ko would require a scope to address the knee issue, rendering him unavailable through at least early August. With Ko out of the mix, manager Joong-il Ryu indicated that Sang Gyu Lee will be the Twins' primary closer, while Woo Young Jung is the next man up behind Lee.
Hyung Jong Lee – Twins – Out – Wrist
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.
LG Twins Expected Lineup:
SP - Woo-chan Cha
2. Hyun Soo Kim
8. Kang Nam Yoo
9. Ji Hwan Oh
Kia Tigers Expected Lineup:
SP - Aaron Brooks
1. Chan Ho Park
2. Sun Bin Kim
5. Dae In Hwang
6. Ji Wan Na
7. Joo Hwan Na
Top picks:
Roberto Ramos, Twins: Ramos has hit safely in four straight games and has been showing a lot of power over the last few days, going yard in three of his last four appearances. He has six home runs and a strong .314 average over his last 10 contests.
Hyun Soo Kim, Twins: Ramos might be hitting for a lot of power, but Kim also has a strong case to be the team's top hitter ahead of this matchup. The veteran outfielder has racked up five straight multi-hit games and is sporting a .571 average during that stretch.
Preston Tucker, Tigers: Tucker was coming off a poor seven-game stretch where he posted a .172 average with just two RBI. However, he homered Thursday – for the first time since May 17 – and also posted a multi-hit effort for the second time in his last three contests. He is showing signs of turning things around after his brief slump.
Sun Bin Kim, Tigers: Kim could be a decent captaincy option if he were completely healthy, but he is dealing with elbow pain and is considered day-to-day. He drew a walk as a pinch hitter Thursday, however, meaning he has reached base in nine straight contests. He's posted a .469/.528/.500 slash line over that stretch.
Captaincy Options:
2. Hyun Soo Kim
Dream11 Team
P – Woo-chan Cha
C – Kang Nam Yoo
IF – Roberto Ramos (C)
IF – Sun Bin Kim
IF – Min Seong Kim
OF – Hyung Woo Choi
OF – Eun Seong Chae
OF – Hyun Soo Kim (VC)
OF – Preston Tucker
