Kia Tigers (44-41) at Kiwoom Heroes (54-37)
Saturday, August 22nd, 5:00 AM EDT
Projected Starters
LHP Hyun Jong Yang (8-6, 5.57 ERA) vs RHP Tae Hoon Kim (5-0, 3.89 ERA)
Game Preview
The Tigers and the Heroes have been two of the most consistent teams in the KBO this season and both are genuine playoff contenders. The Heroes, in fact, have been one of the hottest teams in the league and are within reach of first place at the moment – they're sitting just 1.5 games behind the NC Dinos while going 6-4 in their last 10 games. Meanwhile, the Tigers are 4-6 in that same span and have fallen to sixth place, so they need to improve before it's too late. The pitching matchup also seems to favor the Heroes, as Tae Hoon Kim is undefeated and carries a strong 3.89 ERA while Hyun Jong Yang has a 5.57 ERA thus far.
Injuries
Kia 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
Kia Tigers (44-41) at Kiwoom Heroes (54-37)
Saturday, August 22nd, 5:00 AM EDT
Projected Starters
LHP Hyun Jong Yang (8-6, 5.57 ERA) vs RHP Tae Hoon Kim (5-0, 3.89 ERA)
Game Preview
The Tigers and the Heroes have been two of the most consistent teams in the KBO this season and both are genuine playoff contenders. The Heroes, in fact, have been one of the hottest teams in the league and are within reach of first place at the moment – they're sitting just 1.5 games behind the NC Dinos while going 6-4 in their last 10 games. Meanwhile, the Tigers are 4-6 in that same span and have fallen to sixth place, so they need to improve before it's too late. The pitching matchup also seems to favor the Heroes, as Tae Hoon Kim is undefeated and carries a strong 3.89 ERA while Hyun Jong Yang has a 5.57 ERA thus far.
Injuries
Kia 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.
Tae Jin Kim - 10-Day IL - Ankle
8/12 10:17 PM IST - The Tigers acquired Kim (ankle) and pitcher Hyun Sik Jang from the Dinos on Wednesday in exchange for pitchers Jeong Soo Park and Kyeong Chan Moon, Jee Ho Yoo of Yonhap News Agency reports. The 24-year-old Kim has been sidelined since early July with a right ankle injury, but once healthy, he'll at least provide the Tigers with a versatile option in the infield and outfield. Over 37 games this season, Kim is batting .217 with a home run and six RBI across 88 plate appearances while seeing action at third base, second base, left field and center field.
Sun Bin Kim - 10-Day IL - Hamstring
8/12 3:52 PM IST - Kim was placed on the injured list Wednesday with a right hamstring injury, according to mksports.co.kr. The 30-year-old reportedly hurt himself after making an impressive sliding catch during the second inning of Tuesday's game against LG. Kim recorded three hits, but the injury is severe enough that he requires another prolonged absence. This is Kim's third stint on the injured list this season.
Chang Jin Lee - Out - Hamstring
8/6 9:38 PM IST - Lee left Thursday's game against the Twins with a right thigh injury and will be out at least two weeks, according to sportsseoul.com. Lee has been a steady presence atop the Tigers' lineup since making his season debut in early July, but the team will be forced to use other options in the leadoff spot until he is ready to get back on the field.
Joo Hwan Na - 10-Day IL - Back
8/20 3:01 PM IST - Na was placed on the injured list Thursday with back pain, per OSEN. The 36-year-old Na is the latest Kia third baseman to go down with an injury. Na was cruising through August with a .327 batting average over 15 games. Won Joon Choi, who has mainly played the outfield this season, will start at third base Thursday.
Joon Pyo Park - Out - Finger
8/4 2:42 PM IST - Park was demoted from the Kia roster Tuesday due to pain in his right ring finger, Tae Woo Kim of SPOTV reports. The reliever suffered the injury lifting weights before Tuesday's game against LG. The 28-year-old reportedly lost control while holding a dumbbell, causing the hyperextension of his ring finger. Kia promoted Joon Young Lee on Tuesday to replace Park.
Ji Hyuk Ryu - Out - Hamstring
8/6 9:43 PM IST - Ryu (hamstring) is ready to begin playing in rehab games, according to Tae Woo Kim of SPOTV. Ryu jumped right into a start spot after being acquired by the Tigers in early June, but he injured his hamstring in his fifth game with the club and has been sidelined since. While Ryu is set to get back on the field, manager Matt Williams did not provide an estimated date for Ryu's return to KIA's first team.
Kiwoom Heroes
Byung Wook Lim - Out - Hamstring
8/20 10:28 PM IST - Lim is expected to miss about eight weeks after suffering his second hamstring injury of the season Tuesday, per SPOTV News. Lim returned to action Tuesday after missing over three months with a hamstring injury, and in a stroke of unfortunate luck, he suffered a different hamstring injury and is now facing another lengthy absence -- one that could cost him the rest of the season. Expect Joon Tae Park to continue holding down the center-field duties for the Heroes.
Sung Hyun Moon - Out - Elbow
7/31 3:15 AM IST - Moon hasn't pitched for the Heroes since July 16 due to inflammation in his right elbow, Soo-jin Park of the Money Today Star News reports. Moon is expected to rest up for a few more days before starting a throwing program. The 29-year-old is expected to fill a bullpen role for the Heroes once healthy after posting a 4.20 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 13:11 K:BB over 15 innings prior to being shut down.
Byung Ho Park - Day-To-Day - Wrist
8/20 3:53 PM IST - Park is not playing in Thursday's game against LG because of an injured wrist, per SPOTV News. The Heroes slugger will rest for a couple days before he starts training to return. Park exited Wednesday's matchup with NC after getting hit by a pitch on the wrist. Fortunately, X-ray results turned out negative.
Kiwoom Heroes Expected Lineup
SP - Tae Hoon Kim
2. Ha Seong Kim
3. Jung Hoo Lee
8. Hye Sung Kim
Kia Tigers Expected Lineup
SP - Hyun Jong Yang
4. Ji Wan Na
5. Min Sik Kim
6. Min Sang Yoo
8. Jang Hyuk Ko
9. Chan Ho Park
Top Picks From Each Team
Jung Hoo Lee, Heroes: Lee has hit safely in all but two of the games he's played during the current month, and he is slashing .342/.402/.507 with a .909 OPS, one homer and 15 RBI in that stretch. He's been one of the best hitters in the KBO over the last few weeks and the numbers back that up.
Hyung Woo Choi, Tigers: Choi is riding a 10-game hitting streak, and he is slashing .487/.545/.718 with a 1.263 OPS, seven RBI and nine runs scored in that span. He should be the leader offensively for the Tigers once again.
Captaincy Options
Dream11 Team
P – Tae Hoon Kim
C – Jeong Hoon Lee
IF – Ha Seong Kim (VC)
IF – Keon Chang Seo
IF – Addison Russell
OF – Ji Wan Na
OF – Jung Hoo Lee (C)
OF – Hyung Woo Choi
OF – Jeong Hyeop Heo
