This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
KT Wiz (11-15) vs Lotte Giants (11-15)
Friday, June 5, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected starters
RHP Min Soo Kim (0-0, 14.14 ERA) vs RHP Jun Won Seo (2-1, 4.23 ERA)
Game Preview
The Wiz and the Giants enter this contest with the same 11-15 record, but the teams have taken different paths to that record. The Wiz dropped Thursday's contest to the Bears by a 14-8 score but are a respectable 4-4 over their last eight games, while the Giants have lost three straight and seven of their last eight. The Wiz will send Min Soo Kim to the mound. The righty isn't particularly trustworthy ahead of his first start of the season. In seven bullpen innings this year, he owns a 14.14 ERA. He may not go too deep in this one, as he hasn't thrown more than 1.2 innings in any outing thus far in 2020. The Giants will counter with Jun Won Seo, who has given up just one earned run in 12.2 innings across his last two starts.
Injuries
Baek Ho Kang – Wiz – 10-Day IL – Wrist
June 2 - Kang (wrist) is on track to return sometime next week, Ik-rae Choi of The Dong-A Ilbo reports. Kang was expected to miss three weeks with his wrist injury, and it does not appear he will miss any more time than that. Kang, who posted a 1.137 OPS before landing on the injured list, will resume his role as KT's everyday first baseman when
KT Wiz (11-15) vs Lotte Giants (11-15)
Friday, June 5, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected starters
RHP Min Soo Kim (0-0, 14.14 ERA) vs RHP Jun Won Seo (2-1, 4.23 ERA)
Game Preview
The Wiz and the Giants enter this contest with the same 11-15 record, but the teams have taken different paths to that record. The Wiz dropped Thursday's contest to the Bears by a 14-8 score but are a respectable 4-4 over their last eight games, while the Giants have lost three straight and seven of their last eight. The Wiz will send Min Soo Kim to the mound. The righty isn't particularly trustworthy ahead of his first start of the season. In seven bullpen innings this year, he owns a 14.14 ERA. He may not go too deep in this one, as he hasn't thrown more than 1.2 innings in any outing thus far in 2020. The Giants will counter with Jun Won Seo, who has given up just one earned run in 12.2 innings across his last two starts.
Injuries
Baek Ho Kang – Wiz – 10-Day IL – Wrist
June 2 - Kang (wrist) is on track to return sometime next week, Ik-rae Choi of The Dong-A Ilbo reports. Kang was expected to miss three weeks with his wrist injury, and it does not appear he will miss any more time than that. Kang, who posted a 1.137 OPS before landing on the injured list, will resume his role as KT's everyday first baseman when he returns.
Tae Gon Oh – Wiz – Out – Personal
June 3 - Oh received paternity leave Wednesday, SpoTV reports. Oh should not be away long, but he will take some time to be with his growing family. Seong Ho Cheon was added to the roster in Oh's place.
Hoon Jeong – Giants – 10-Day IL – Abdomen
June 3 - Giants manager Mun-hoe Her said Monday Wednesday that Jeong is coming along faster than expected in his recovery from a ruptured inner abdominal muscle, Sang Kyung Park of The Chosun Ilbo reports. Her estimated that Jeong was about "80 to 90 percent" recovered from the injury, with his rapid progress coming as a pleasant surprise after the Giants initially expected him to miss at least four weeks when he got hurt May 15. Jeong could still be sent to the Futures League for a rehab game or two before rejoining the Giants, but based on the comments from Her, it sounds like the 32-year-old could be back with the big club in about a week or so.
KT Wiz Expected Lineup:
SP - Min Soo Kim
1. Woo Joon Sim
3. Yong Ho Jo
4. Mel Rojas
Lotte Giants Expected Lineup:
SP - Jun Won Seo
2. Jun Woo Jeon
3. Ah Seop Son
4. Dae-Ho Lee
5. Chi Hong An
7. Dong Hee Han
8. Bo Geun Jung
9. Bon Gi Shin
Top picks:
Dae-Ho Lee, Giants: The Giants' first baseman went 0-for-4 during Thursday's game against the Tigers, but he'd recorded at least one hit in each of his previous nine contests. The veteran infielder has a .306 average in his last 10 games and could take advantage of the fact the Wiz will send a struggling reliever to the mound in this contest.
Jun Won Seo, Giants: Seo has easily been the more impressive of the two starting pitchers in this contest, as he's been excellent over his last two starts. Coming off a one-run, six-inning effort against the Bears, Seo has now gave up just one earned run in his last 12.2 innings of work.
Mel Rojas, Wiz: Rojas has been one of the most dangerous hitters in the league this season. The power-hitting outfielder is among the KBO leaders in several categories, sitting second in home runs (eight), batting average (.417) and OPS (1.202). He went 5-for-11 against the Giants when these teams last met.
Ah Seop Son, Giants: Son enters this contest in a six-game hitting streak, producing a .346/.433/.423 slash line with three RBI, four walks and just one strikeout during that stretch. His on-base skills will be pivotal near the top of the Giants lineup.
Captaincy Options:
1. Dae-Ho Lee
2. Jun Won Seo
3. Mel Rojas
Dream11 Team
P – Jun Won Seo (VC)
C – Bo Geun Jung
IF – Dae-Ho Lee (C)
IF – Chi Hong An
IF – Dong Hee Han
OF – Ah Seop Son
OF – Mel Rojas
OF – Yong Ho Jo
OF – Jeong Dae Bae