Samsung Lions (11-14) at LG Twins (16-8)
Wednesday, June 3, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected Starters
LHP Heo Yoon-dong (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs RHP Casey Kelly (2-0, 4.05 ERA)
Game Preview
The Lions beat the Twins 2-0 in the series opener Tuesday, giving them their fifth win in their last six games, but they still look like underdogs in this one. Even after their recent hot streak, they sit seventh in the standings while ranking sixth in runs scored and sixth in runs allowed. The Twins, meanwhile, sit second, combining the league's fifth-best offense with its second-best pitching. The gap in pitching couldn't be much larger than it is in this game. The Lions' 18-year-old lefty Heo Yoon-dong may have thrown five scoreless in his debut start against the Giants last week, but he allowed nine baserunners in those innings, walking four while striking out just one. The Twins' Casey Kelly, on the other hand, was a first-round pick in the MLB draft back in 2008 and has parts of four seasons of major-league experience to his name. A pair of poor starts early this year has given him an unremarkable 4.05 ERA, but his 2.55 ERA and 1.14 WHIP last season serve as an indication of what he's capable of.
Injuries
Baek Jung-hyun, Lions - 10-Day IL - Calf
June 2 - Baek (calf) is expected to be activated from the injured list this week, according to OSEN. Samsung's Opening Day starter has missed three weeks with his injury,
Samsung Lions (11-14) at LG Twins (16-8)
Wednesday, June 3, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected Starters
LHP Heo Yoon-dong (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs RHP Casey Kelly (2-0, 4.05 ERA)
Game Preview
The Lions beat the Twins 2-0 in the series opener Tuesday, giving them their fifth win in their last six games, but they still look like underdogs in this one. Even after their recent hot streak, they sit seventh in the standings while ranking sixth in runs scored and sixth in runs allowed. The Twins, meanwhile, sit second, combining the league's fifth-best offense with its second-best pitching. The gap in pitching couldn't be much larger than it is in this game. The Lions' 18-year-old lefty Heo Yoon-dong may have thrown five scoreless in his debut start against the Giants last week, but he allowed nine baserunners in those innings, walking four while striking out just one. The Twins' Casey Kelly, on the other hand, was a first-round pick in the MLB draft back in 2008 and has parts of four seasons of major-league experience to his name. A pair of poor starts early this year has given him an unremarkable 4.05 ERA, but his 2.55 ERA and 1.14 WHIP last season serve as an indication of what he's capable of.
Injuries
Baek Jung-hyun, Lions - 10-Day IL - Calf
June 2 - Baek (calf) is expected to be activated from the injured list this week, according to OSEN. Samsung's Opening Day starter has missed three weeks with his injury, but he made a start with the club's Futures League team last week and is on the verge of rejoining the rotation for the top-level club.
Koo Ja-wook, Lions - 10-Day IL - Thigh
May 26 - Koo will be out four weeks with his left thigh injury, KBO analyst Jin-Hyeok Jang reports. The news regarding Koo's injury has gotten progressively worse, as he went from leaving a game with a sore thigh, to missing the next game altogether, to being removed from the roster and now being ruled out for a month. Koo has gotten off to a fast start this season, so his extended absence certainly won't help a Lions team looking to keep pace in the standings.
Lee Hyung-jong, 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. Park Yong-taik has received more playing time as a result of Lee's injury.
Lions Expected Lineup
P Heo Yoon-dong
1. Kim Sang-su
2. Park Chan-do
4. Lee Won-seok
5. Lee Hak-ju
6. Kim Dong-yeop
7. Lee Sung-gyu
8. Kang Min-ho
9. Kim Heon-gon
Twins Last Lineup
1. Lee Chun-woong
2. Kim Hyun-soo
3. Chae Eun-sung
5. Kim Min-sung
6. Jeong Keun-woo
7. Jung Ju-hyeon
8. Yoo Kang-nam
9. Oh Ji-hwan
Top Picks
Casey Kelly, Twins: While it's tempting to take the 9.5-credit savings and build a Lions-based lineup around Heo Yoo-dong in this one, that doesn't seem advisable given Kelly's track record. He struck out 10 batters in six scoreless innings against the Eagles his last time out and could be in line for a similar performance against the mediocre Lions lineup Wednesday.
Roberto Ramos, Twins: It would ordinarily be odd to recommend a left-handed hitter as a captain option with a lefty pitcher on the mound for the opposition, but Ramos has been anything but ordinary this season. The Mexican slugger has looked like the early MVP favorite in his first season in the KBO, hitting .373 with 10 homers, three more than anyone else in the league.
Kim Sang-su, Lions: If Heo's cheap price inspires you to build a Lions-based lineup, Kim makes for a strong captain choice. The leadoff man is hitting .329 this season with more walks (17) than strikeouts (14).
Chae Eun-sung, Twins: The Twins' number three hitter could also deserve captain consideration in this game. The right-handed outfielder is hitting .316 with four homers this season and has hit .313 or better in four of the last five campaigns.
Captaincy Options
1. Casey Kelly
3. Kim Sang-su
Dream11 Team
P Casey Kelly (C)
C Yoo Kang-nam
IF Roberto Ramos (VC)
IF Kim Sang-su
IF Jeong Keun-woo
IF Jung Ju-hyeon
IF Kim Ji-chan
OF Chae Eun-sung
OF Park Chan-do
