This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
Kia Tigers (17-16) vs SK Wyverns (11-21)
June 12th, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected starters
RHP Drew Gagnon (2-3, 3.48 ERA) vs RHP Jong Hoon Park (3-0, 3.44 ERA)
Game Preview
The Tigers might be coming off a loss against the Wiz their last time out, but they own a respectable 5-5 mark in their last 10 contests and are one game above .500 on the season. The Wyverns, on the other hand, are coming off back-to-back losses and are sitting 10 games below the .500 threshold entering this matchup. Both pitchers enter this matchup with a sub-3.50 ERA, as the Tigers' Drew Gagnon has a 3.48 mark while the Wyverns' Jong Hoon Park owns a slightly better 3.44 figure. Between the pair, however, Gagnon looks like the better option in this particular contest since the Wyverns are dealing with several injuries and have struggled for most of the season. Gagnon is coming off a solid start against the Bears, allowing three runs on 6.1 innings in a no-decision. Park, however, is yet to allow more than three earned runs in any game this year.
Injuries
Sun Bin Kim – Tigers – 10-Day IL – Hamstring
June 10 - Kim is not dealing with a major hamstring injury, according to Tae Woo Kim of SpoTV, but he was removed from Kia's roster Wednesday, Soo Jin Park of Star News reports. While Kim does not appear to be facing a long-term absence, the injury he suffered Tuesday will cost him additional time.
Kia Tigers (17-16) vs SK Wyverns (11-21)
June 12th, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected starters
RHP Drew Gagnon (2-3, 3.48 ERA) vs RHP Jong Hoon Park (3-0, 3.44 ERA)
Game Preview
The Tigers might be coming off a loss against the Wiz their last time out, but they own a respectable 5-5 mark in their last 10 contests and are one game above .500 on the season. The Wyverns, on the other hand, are coming off back-to-back losses and are sitting 10 games below the .500 threshold entering this matchup. Both pitchers enter this matchup with a sub-3.50 ERA, as the Tigers' Drew Gagnon has a 3.48 mark while the Wyverns' Jong Hoon Park owns a slightly better 3.44 figure. Between the pair, however, Gagnon looks like the better option in this particular contest since the Wyverns are dealing with several injuries and have struggled for most of the season. Gagnon is coming off a solid start against the Bears, allowing three runs on 6.1 innings in a no-decision. Park, however, is yet to allow more than three earned runs in any game this year.
Injuries
Sun Bin Kim – Tigers – 10-Day IL – Hamstring
June 10 - Kim is not dealing with a major hamstring injury, according to Tae Woo Kim of SpoTV, but he was removed from Kia's roster Wednesday, Soo Jin Park of Star News reports. While Kim does not appear to be facing a long-term absence, the injury he suffered Tuesday will cost him additional time. Gyu Seong Kim will get the first chance to take over at second base.
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.
Tae In Chae – 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.
Dong Min Han– 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.
Chang Pyung Kim– Wyverns – 10-Day IL – Shoulder
June 6 - Kim (shoulder) had his stint on the injured list extended Friday, according to koreabaseball.com. It was thought that Kim might only miss a few games as a result of his injury, but he has not stepped on the field since May 24. He will be eligible to come off the injured list as soon as he is healthy, but it remains to be seen when that will be.
Jong Wook Ko– Wyverns – Out – Ankle
June 11 - Ko (ankle) will be out late June or early July, Newsis reports. It was thought that Ko would only miss two weeks with the ankle injury he suffered in mid-May, but it now appears he'll be out significantly longer than that.
Jae Won Lee– 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.
Kia Tigers Expected Lineup:
SP - Drew Gagnon
1. Ho Ryung Kim
4. Ji Wan Na
5. Min Sang Yoo
7. Ji Hyuk Ryu
9. Chan Ho Park
SK Wyverns Expected Lineup:
SP - Jong Hoon Park
2. Ji Hoon Choi
3. Jeong Choi
4. Jamie Romak
6. Jin Gi Jeong
7. Hang Choi
9. Hyun Jung
Top picks:
Ji Wan Na, Tigers: Na enters this game with a .385 average against the Wyverns this year, as he has five hits in 13 at-bats against them as well as two RBI. The left fielder owns a career-best .312 average with an .891 OPS, four home runs and 20 RBI this season. He should be a strong captain option.
Soo Kwang Noh, Wyverns: Noh should be a popular play once again due to his low cost, as he's having a productive season, hitting a solid .274. He's looked particularly good against the Tigers, as he has four hits in nine at-bats against them this season.
Preston Tucker, Tigers: Tucker could be a strong option given his track record this season, though he's struggled against the Wyverns this year, going hitless in 15 at-bats with one walk and one RBI in one of his rare cold stretches. He's beaten up the rest of the league all year, though, and should be a good bet to produce in this one.
Chan Ho Park, Tigers: Park has hit .333 with a .375 on-base percentage this season against the Wyverns and will try to extend that solid run in this matchup. The shortstop has only one hit in his last seven contests, but facing a team he had success against earlier in the year could wake his bat up.
Captaincy Options:
1. Ji Wan Na
Dream11 Team
P – Drew Gagnon
C – Hyun Seok Lee
IF – Jeong Choi
IF – Chan Ho Park
IF – Hyun Jung
OF – Jin Gi Jeong
OF – Soo Kwang Noh (VC)
OF – Ho Ryung Kim
OF – Ji Wan Na (C)
