This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
Kia Tigers (31-25) at Samsung Lions (30-29)
Tuesday, July 14th, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Min Woo Lee (4-3, 4.92 ERA) vs RHP David Buchanan (7-3, 3.82 ERA)
Game Preview
The Lions were one of the hottest teams in the KBO over the last few weeks until they fell into their current four-game losing streak. However, they remain a force to be reckoned with as they still sit one game above .500 and own a 5-5 mark in their last 10 games. The Tigers, on the other hand, are coming off a huge 13-3 win over the Kiwoom Heroes and sit in fourth place of the standings with a 31-25 record, but they're still eight games away from first place. They are on the rise, though, with four straight wins and a 6-4 mark in their last 10 games. The pitching matchup Tuesday will face David Buchanan with Min Woo Lee. Buchanan has been pitching well of late and has allowed more than two earned runs just once since May 24. He owns a 2.56 ERA in 52.2 innings during that stretch. Meanwhile, Lee has struggled of late, posting a 6.92 ERA over his last five starts.
Injuries
Tigers
Young Seok Jang - Out - Not Injury Related
6/8 10:29 PM IST - Jang was removed from KIA's first-team roster Monday, Ik-rae Choi of The Dong-A Ilbo reports. Jang was called up last week after spending several weeks with KIA's second team, but he is headed back down
Kia Tigers (31-25) at Samsung Lions (30-29)
Tuesday, July 14th, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Min Woo Lee (4-3, 4.92 ERA) vs RHP David Buchanan (7-3, 3.82 ERA)
Game Preview
The Lions were one of the hottest teams in the KBO over the last few weeks until they fell into their current four-game losing streak. However, they remain a force to be reckoned with as they still sit one game above .500 and own a 5-5 mark in their last 10 games. The Tigers, on the other hand, are coming off a huge 13-3 win over the Kiwoom Heroes and sit in fourth place of the standings with a 31-25 record, but they're still eight games away from first place. They are on the rise, though, with four straight wins and a 6-4 mark in their last 10 games. The pitching matchup Tuesday will face David Buchanan with Min Woo Lee. Buchanan has been pitching well of late and has allowed more than two earned runs just once since May 24. He owns a 2.56 ERA in 52.2 innings during that stretch. Meanwhile, Lee has struggled of late, posting a 6.92 ERA over his last five starts.
Injuries
Tigers
Young Seok Jang - Out - Not Injury Related
6/8 10:29 PM IST - Jang was removed from KIA's first-team roster Monday, Ik-rae Choi of The Dong-A Ilbo reports. Jang was called up last week after spending several weeks with KIA's second team, but he is headed back down after going 1-for-11 (.091) last week. Recently-acquired Ji Hyuk Ryu is expected to take over as KIA's starting third baseman.
Joo Chan Kim - 10-Day IL - Undisclosed
6/22 11:52 PM IST - Kim was removed from the Tigers' roster on Monday, Soo Jin Park of Star News reports. It's not clear if Kim was placed on the injured list or sent to the Futures League, as he went 6-for-18 (.333) after making his season debut June 7 but received just five at-bats over the last five games. One way or another, though, the 39-year-old will not be active heading into the latest week of KBO action.
Sun Bin Kim - 10-Day IL - Thigh
7/6 11:14 AM IST - Kim is expected to miss 2-to-3 weeks after he was diagnosed Monday with a left thigh strain and bruised right ankle, Su-jin Park of Star News reports. Kim was removed from Sunday's loss to the Dinos after he was injured while running the bases. His absence until at least late July is a tough break for the Tigers, as the second baseman was leading the KBO with a .378 batting average. Kim had previously missed time in June with a left quadriceps injury, so it wouldn't be a surprise if the Tigers view the three-week timeline as a more realistic date for his return now that he's dealing with two more lower-body issues.
Kyung Chan Moon - 10-Day IL - Elbow
7/7 3:02 PM IST - Moon was placed on the injured list with elbow pain Tuesday, according to chosun.com. Kia manager Matt Williams clarified it as a minor injury and that he moved the 27-year-old to the IL to give him more rest. The right-hander has recently struggled, allowing nine earned runs over his last two innings. Sang Hyun Jeon will take over as closer until Moon fully heals.
Joo Hwan Na - Day-To-Day - Calf
7/13 3:29 PM IST - Na (calf) is not in Monday's lineup against Kiwoom, MyKBOStats.com reports. Jeong Yong Choi will start ahead of the 36-year-old on Monday. Na will look at returning Tuesday against Samsung, as the vet attempts to build his case for why he should remain Kia's everyday third baseman.
Ji Hyuk Ryu - Out - Hamstring
7/6 4:44 PM IST - Ryu (hamstring) will be re-evaluated in 2-to-3 weeks to determine a clearer timetable for his return, Su Jin Park of Star News reports. Kia will have the 26-year-old rehab and start physical training after an MRI revealed positive progress involving his injury. The team will likely look at the end of July or beginning of August for a potential return date. Ryu was traded to the Tigers from Doosan in June, playing just five games before getting injured.
Lions
Hyun Joon Im - Out - Not Injury Related
6/29 10:56 PM IST - Im was removed from the Lions' first-team roster Monday, according to the team's official Twitter account. Im was not scored upon in his first 15 appearances out of Samsung's bullpen, but he was tagged for three earned runs over his last five outings, so the team decided to give him a break. He will be eligible to rejoin Samsung's top team during the second week of July.
Heon Gon Kim - Out - Not Injury Related
7/3 2:41 PM IST - Kim was removed from the first-team roster Friday, according to the Lions' official Twitter page. Samsung will demote the 31-year-old for the second time this season, the first instance occurring June 5. Kim continued to struggle upon his return to the Lions, producing just a .630 OPS through 11 games. Samsung promoted Jun Seok Song to the first team ahead of Friday's game against LG.
Ja Wook Koo - Out - Thumb
7/10 3:01 PM IST - Koo was removed from Samsung's first team roster Friday due to pain in his left thumb, Ik-Rae Choi of The Dong-a Ilbo reports. The 27-year-old's injury is reportedly bad enough that it will keep him out for at least one week. It comes as bad news for the Lions, as their star player will be out at a time in which they are competing for the postseason. There is no clear replacement for Koo in the outfield, meaning Samsung may rotate players in left field for the time being.
Ben Lively - Out - Side
7/11 10:30 PM IST - Lively (side) made a rehab start with Samsung's Futures League team Saturday, according to chosun.com. Saturday's appearance was the first game action Lively has seen since going down with a side injury in late May. He only threw two innings, but he did hit 93 mph on the radar gun and struck out four batters. Lively is close to rejoining Samsung's first team, but manager Sam Yeong Heo indicated he would likely make one more rehab appearance before doing so.
Tae In Won - Out - Not Injury Related
7/9 2:20 PM IST - Won was removed from the Lions' roster Thursday, according to Sung Yoon Park of SPOTV. Won has gone 5-2 with a 3.12 ERA over 12 outings this season, but he is well on his way to surpassing the 112 innings he threw in his 2019 rookie campaign, so he will get some extra rest before he makes his next start.
Tigers' Expected Lineup
SP - Min Woo Lee
1. Chang Jin Lee
2. Preston Tucker
3. Hyung Woo Choi
4. Ji Wan Na
5. Min Sang Yoo
6. Joo Hwan Na
7. Chan Ho Park
8. Seung Taek Han
9. Gyu Seong Kim
Lions' Expected Lineup
SP - David Buchanan
1. Sang Su Kim
2. Hae Min Park
3. Tyler Saladino
4. Won Seok Lee
5. Seong Gon Lee
6. Dong Yeop Kim
7. Hak Ju Lee
8. Min Ho Kang
9. Seung Gyu Park
Top Picks
Tyler Saladino, Lions: Ja Wook Koo is sidelined with an injury, but Tyler Saladino represents an excellent alternative for offense in the Lions roster. Saladino has played since late June, but he supplied a .327/.486/.582 slash line with 16 runs and 14 RBI through 19 games in June.
Preston Tucker, Tigers: Tucker went yard Monday against the Heroes and now has launched four home runs with 10 RBI in his last six games. Without a doubt, he has been Kia's hottest hitter this month and is batting .302 with four long balls during July.
David Buchanan, Lions: Buchanan is not getting the credit he deserves of late and enters this matchup in a good run of form, as the veteran hurler has allowed more than two earned runs just once since May 24. He owns a 2.56 ERA in 52.2 innings during that stretch. If anyone can stop the Tigers' offense, it's him.
Sang Su Kim, Lions: Kim has been an essential piece for the Lions, leading the team and league with a .434 on-base percentage. That's enough reason to give him a spot in the roster on most formats.
Captaincy Options
Dream11 Team
P – David Buchanan
C – Min Ho Kang
IF – Tyler Saladino (C)
IF – Sang Su Kim
IF – Joo Hwan Na
IF – Gyu Seong Kim
OF – Preston Tucker (VC)
OF – Ho Ryung Kim
OF – Seon Woo Oh
