NC Dinos (31-13) at Doosan Bears (27-18)
Saturday, June 27th, 4:00 AM EDT
Projected starters
LHP Sung Young Choi (0-0, 9.82 ERA) vs RHP Raul Alcantara (7-1, 3.70 ERA)
Game Preview
The Dinos remain comfortable at the top of the KBO standings with a 31-13 record and are in no real danger of losing their position any time soon, as they currently hold a four-game lead over the second-place Heroes. The Bears, on the other hand, have fallen to third place, as they've lost two in a row after winning six straight games. The Bears will try to get back to their winning ways with Raul Alcantara on the mound, who's been consistently solid, posting a 3.70 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. The Dinos will need to rely on their first-ranked offense since their starting pitcher, Sung Young Choi, has struggled to a 6.75 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP this season. He's yet to pitch four innings in any of three appearances this year.
Injuries
Jae Won Oh , Bears- 10-Day IL - Hamstring
June 23 - Oh was placed on the injured list Tuesday after aggravating his hamstring injury, according to OSEN. Oh returned to action last week after missing nearly two weeks with a hamstring injury, but he will now miss more time for the same reason. Oh was limited to pinch-hit duty since being activated, so his absence should not change up the infield rotation the Giants have used in June.
Joon Wan Kim, Dinos
NC Dinos (31-13) at Doosan Bears (27-18)
Saturday, June 27th, 4:00 AM EDT
Projected starters
LHP Sung Young Choi (0-0, 9.82 ERA) vs RHP Raul Alcantara (7-1, 3.70 ERA)
Game Preview
The Dinos remain comfortable at the top of the KBO standings with a 31-13 record and are in no real danger of losing their position any time soon, as they currently hold a four-game lead over the second-place Heroes. The Bears, on the other hand, have fallen to third place, as they've lost two in a row after winning six straight games. The Bears will try to get back to their winning ways with Raul Alcantara on the mound, who's been consistently solid, posting a 3.70 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. The Dinos will need to rely on their first-ranked offense since their starting pitcher, Sung Young Choi, has struggled to a 6.75 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP this season. He's yet to pitch four innings in any of three appearances this year.
Injuries
Jae Won Oh , Bears- 10-Day IL - Hamstring
June 23 - Oh was placed on the injured list Tuesday after aggravating his hamstring injury, according to OSEN. Oh returned to action last week after missing nearly two weeks with a hamstring injury, but he will now miss more time for the same reason. Oh was limited to pinch-hit duty since being activated, so his absence should not change up the infield rotation the Giants have used in June.
Joon Wan Kim, Dinos - 10-Day IL - Side
June 1 - Kim felt soreness in his right side last week, according to OSEN, and was placed on the injured list. It's not clear how long Kim will be sidelined, but the Dinos' reserve outfielder has not played since May 28 and will apparently miss more time. Sung Wook Kim was added to the roster in Joon Wan Kim's place.
NC Dinos Expected Lineup
SP - Sung Young Choi
1. Min Woo Park
2. Myung Gi Lee
3. Sung Bum Na
4. Eui Ji Yang
7. Suk Min Park
9. Jin Hyuk No
Doosan Bears Expected Lineup
SP - Raul Alcantara
1. Kun Woo Park
3. Jae Il Oh
4. Jae Hwan Kim
7. Jae Ho Kim
8. Se Hyuk Park
9. Soo Bin Jung
Top picks
Sung Bum Na, Dinos: Na currently sits tied for second in the KBO home run race with 13, averaging one every 15.5 plate appearances. A threat to go deep in any game, he also enters this matchup with a strong .310/.375/.632 slash line in 87 plate appearances this month.
Aaron Altherr, Dinos: Altherr has cooled off a bit after a sizzling start to the month, but he remains one of the Dinos' most reliable offensive threats. He has hit safely in seven of the Dinos' past 10 games and owns a .333/.371/.606 slash line during that span. He's recorded five homers and 21 RBI during the month of June.
Jose Fernandez, Bears: Fernandez is one of the most expensive players on the slate at 16.5 credits, but he's certainly a very strong choice for anyone with the room to include him. The slugger can create havoc against any pitcher in the league and should be included in most lineups thanks to his .374 batting average.
Sung Young Choi, Dinos: Raul Alcantara has the better numbers and already had success against the Dinos this season, earning a win while allowing just one run in seven innings on June 10. However, the real value might lie in Choi, who only costs seven credits as opposed to Alcantara's 12. Given the strength of the Dinos' lineup, it's not as crazy as one might think to back Choi ahead of this matchup.
Captaincy Options
1. Sung Bum Na
Dream11 Team
P – Sung Young Choi
C – Eui Ji Yang
IF – Jose Fernandez
IF – Jae Ho Kim
OF – Aaron Altherr (VC)
OF – Sung Bum Na (C)
OF – Jin Sung Kang
OF – Myung Gi Lee
OF – Hae Sung Kuk
