This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
KT Wiz (13-22) at SK Wyverns (12-23)
Tuesday, June 16, 5:00 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Kim Min-soo (1-2, 9.98 ERA) vs RHP Ricardo Pinto (3-2, 3.76 ERA)
Game Preview
The matchup features a pair of teams ranked eighth and ninth (out of 10) in the KBO standings, though both teams have shown reasons to believe in them at times this season. The Wiz ranked first in runs per game at several points early in the year, though they've slipped to fifth after a cold stretch. The Wyverns finished tied for the best regular-season record last year and seemed to be recovering from an awful start, winning seven out of nine at one point in late May and early June, but they've gone cold again, losing five of their last seven. Neither team is within six games of a playoff spot at this point, but a sweep in this series would establish the winner as a team which could make a run. A pair of unreliable pitchers will take the mound Tuesday, though the Wiz's Kim Min-soo has the far worse statline this season. He's allowed 17 runs in 15.1 innings this year while allowing well over two baserunners per inning. The Wyverns will send out former MLB pitcher Ricardo Pinto. His 3.76 ERA on the season is solid, but his 1.65 WHIP, 13.3 percent strikeout rate and 10.1 percent walk rate are all poor.
Injuries
Hwang Jae-gyun, Wiz - 10-Day IL - Finger
June 9 - Hwang (finger)
KT Wiz (13-22) at SK Wyverns (12-23)
Tuesday, June 16, 5:00 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Kim Min-soo (1-2, 9.98 ERA) vs RHP Ricardo Pinto (3-2, 3.76 ERA)
Game Preview
The matchup features a pair of teams ranked eighth and ninth (out of 10) in the KBO standings, though both teams have shown reasons to believe in them at times this season. The Wiz ranked first in runs per game at several points early in the year, though they've slipped to fifth after a cold stretch. The Wyverns finished tied for the best regular-season record last year and seemed to be recovering from an awful start, winning seven out of nine at one point in late May and early June, but they've gone cold again, losing five of their last seven. Neither team is within six games of a playoff spot at this point, but a sweep in this series would establish the winner as a team which could make a run. A pair of unreliable pitchers will take the mound Tuesday, though the Wiz's Kim Min-soo has the far worse statline this season. He's allowed 17 runs in 15.1 innings this year while allowing well over two baserunners per inning. The Wyverns will send out former MLB pitcher Ricardo Pinto. His 3.76 ERA on the season is solid, but his 1.65 WHIP, 13.3 percent strikeout rate and 10.1 percent walk rate are all poor.
Injuries
Hwang Jae-gyun, Wiz - 10-Day IL - Finger
June 9 - Hwang (finger) was placed on the injured list Tuesday, Tae Woo Kim of SPOTV reports. Hwang's right index finger injury is bad enough that he will require a stint on the injured list. The good news is the 32-year-old reportedly needs only a week, and perhaps less, for the hand to heal fully. KT will promote infielder Kim Young-hwan in Hwang's place.
Oh Tae-gon, 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. Cheon Seong-ho was added to the roster in Oh's place.
Chae Tae-in, Wyverns - 10-Day IL - Ribs
May 12 - 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.
Han Dong-min, Wyverns - 10-Day IL - Lower Leg
June 11 - Han (lower leg) is expected to return between late June and early July, Newsis reports. Han still has a ways to go in his recovery, and manager Kyung Yup Yeom said he "will not be in a hurry" to get Han back. However, Han appears to be progressing well and still has a chance to return to the field sooner than originally expected.
Kim Chang-pyung, Wyverns - 10-Day IL - Shoulder
June 15- Kim (shoulder) is on track to return to action for the end of the month, Tae Woo Kim of SPOTV reports. Kim has not played for SK since May 24, and the Wyverns have been cautious with his recovery because he has dealt with the same issue in the past. Kim is nearing the end of the process though, and could make a Futures League appearance next week. If all goes well he should resume playing before June comes to a close.
Lee Jae-won, Wyverns - 10-Day IL - Thumb
June 11 - Lee (thumb) is expected to return between late June and early July, Newsis reports. SK's top catcher has missed nearly the entire season after fracturing his thumb on the third day of play, and it appears he will miss several more weeks. Manager Kyung Yup Yeom said he "will not be in a hurry" to get Lee back, so he should be 100 percent, or at least close to it, whenever he next takes the field.
Wiz Expected Lineup
P Kim Min-soo
1. Jo Yong-ho
2. Bae Jeong-dae
3. Kang Baek-ho
4. Yoo Han-joon
5. Mel Rojas
6. Park Kyung-soo
7. Jang Sung-woo
8. Chun Seong-ho
9. Sim Woo-joon
Wyverns Expected Lineup
1. Choi Ji-hoon
2. Ko Jong-wook
3. Choi Jeong
4. Jamie Romak
5. Jeong Eui-yoon
6. Jeong Jin-gi
7. Lee Heung-ryun
8. Choi Hang
9. Jung Hyun
Top Picks
Ricardo Pinto, Wyverns: Neither pitcher has been very good this season, and the Wiz's lineup has outperformed the Wyverns' thus far, which could make a case for selecting the much cheaper Kim Min-soo. Kim's awful numbers make Pinto's mediocre stats look excellent, though, and the gap between them is enough to justify selecting Pinto here.
Jamie Romak, Wyverns: Romak started slowly, along with the rest of his team, posting a modest .746 OPS with two homers in 23 games in May. He's kicked into a new gear since the calendar flipped to June, though, posting a 1.144 OPS while hitting three homers in just 12 games.
Choi Jeong, Wyverns: The story with Choi is much the same as with Romak. The veteran hit an awful .125 through his first 17 games this season, but he's hit an excellent .377 in his last 17 contests.
Kang Baek-ho, Wiz: While the lineup presented here is Wyverns-based, building a Wiz-based group certainly doesn't seem like a bad idea. Kang makes for a great captain choice for such a team, as the 20-year-old slugger has hit .329 with seven homers in 20 games this season.
Captaincy Options
1. Jamie Romak
2. Choi Jeong
3. Kang Baek-ho
Dream11 Team
C Lee Heung-ryun
IF Jamie Romak (C)
IF Choi Jeong (VC)
IF Hang Choi
OF Mel Rojas
OF Kang Baek-ho
OF Bae Jeong-dae
OF Choi Ji-hoon
