This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
NC Dinos (17-5) at Samsung Lions (10-13)
Sunday, May 31, 1:00 AM EDT
Projected starters
LHP Chang-mo Koo (3-0, 0.62 ERA) vs LHP Chae-heung Choi (3-0, 1.88 ERA)
Game Preview
The Dinos remain at the top of the standings with a 17-5 record, but they enter this game on a two-game losing streak following Saturday's 9-1 loss. That means the Lions, who sit in seventh place with a 10-13 record, will get the chance to go for the sweep Sunday. There will be a battle of left-handed star pitchers in this series finale, with Chang-mo Koo lining up for the Dinos against the Lions' Chae-heung Choi. Koo has been absolutely dominant this season with a 0.62 ERA in 29.0 innings pitched, but Choi has not been too far behind. Choi is sporting a similarly excellent 1.88 ERA in 24.0 innings of labor. We could be in line for a thrilling pitchers' duel between two of the league's best southpaws.
Injuries
Chang Min Mo – Dinos – 10-Day IL – Shoulder
May 12 - Mo will miss the next two weeks as a result of his shoulder injury, KBO Analyst Jin-Hyeok Jang reports. Mo sat out NC's last game Sunday after injuring his shoulder in the club's previous game Friday, and it turns out he will miss extended time beyond that. Won Jae Lee, as well as another player or two, should see more action in Mo's absence.
Jung Hyun Baek – Lions – 10-Day IL – Calf
May
NC Dinos (17-5) at Samsung Lions (10-13)
Sunday, May 31, 1:00 AM EDT
Projected starters
LHP Chang-mo Koo (3-0, 0.62 ERA) vs LHP Chae-heung Choi (3-0, 1.88 ERA)
Game Preview
The Dinos remain at the top of the standings with a 17-5 record, but they enter this game on a two-game losing streak following Saturday's 9-1 loss. That means the Lions, who sit in seventh place with a 10-13 record, will get the chance to go for the sweep Sunday. There will be a battle of left-handed star pitchers in this series finale, with Chang-mo Koo lining up for the Dinos against the Lions' Chae-heung Choi. Koo has been absolutely dominant this season with a 0.62 ERA in 29.0 innings pitched, but Choi has not been too far behind. Choi is sporting a similarly excellent 1.88 ERA in 24.0 innings of labor. We could be in line for a thrilling pitchers' duel between two of the league's best southpaws.
Injuries
Chang Min Mo – Dinos – 10-Day IL – Shoulder
May 12 - Mo will miss the next two weeks as a result of his shoulder injury, KBO Analyst Jin-Hyeok Jang reports. Mo sat out NC's last game Sunday after injuring his shoulder in the club's previous game Friday, and it turns out he will miss extended time beyond that. Won Jae Lee, as well as another player or two, should see more action in Mo's absence.
Jung Hyun Baek – Lions – 10-Day IL – Calf
May 23 - Manager Sam Young Heo is uncertain when Baek (calf) will be ready to return to action, according to chosun.com. It has been nearly two weeks since Baek started his last game, and Heo's comments indicate Baek could be out at least until sometime in June. Samsung has had to get creative to fill Baek's spot in the rotation, and they will have to continue doing so until he is back on the mound.
Ja Wook Koo – 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.
Seong Gyu Lee – Lions – Out – Head
May 16 - Lee was removed from Samsung's first-group entry Saturday, according to the team's official Twitter account. It's not certain why Lee was taken off the roster, but it likely has something to do with him taking a pitch off his helmet just a couple nights ago.
NC Dinos Expected Lineup:
SP - Chang-mo Koo
1. Min Woo Park
2. Myung Gi Lee
3. Sung-bum Na
4. Eui Ji Yang
5. Suk Min Park
7. Jin-hyuk No
Samsung Lions Expected Lineup:
SP - Chae-heung Choi
1. Sang Su Kim
3. Hak-ju Lee
4. Won-seok Lee
6. Chan Do Park
7. Hun Gon Kim
8. Min-Ho Kang
Top picks:
Sung-bum Na, Dinos: Na's hitting streak ended at six games following a 0-for-4 performance Saturday, but he remains one of the most complete hitters in the league. Through 96 plate appearances, he owns a .329/.427/.622 slash line to go along with seven home runs and 18 RBI. He leads his team in homers while ranking second in RBI.
Chang-mo Koo, Dinos: Koo has looked like one of the best pitchers in the league this season. He's tossed at least six innings in each of his four starts and is yet to allow more than one earned run in any game. This translates to a sizzling 0.62 ERA – to go along with a 0.66 WHIP – in 29.0 innings.
Min Woo Park, Dinos: The second baseman has gone hitless in his last two games and has recorded just one hit in his last five contests, posting a dismal .053 average during that stretch. However, he had a 10-game hitting streak earlier this month and is a clear candidate to bounce back.
Dong-Yeop Kim, Lions: If you want to go with the underdog Lions, Kim could be a solid choice. The outfielder has four homers and 16 RBI to go along with a .261 average in 95 plate appearances.
Captaincy Options:
1. Sung-bum Na
2. Chang-mo Koo
3. Min Woo Park
Dream11 Team
P – Chang-mo Koo (VC)
C – Eui Ji Yang
IF – Min Woo Park
IF – Won Seok Lee
IF – Sang Su Kim
OF – Sung-bum Na (C)
OF – Myung Gi Lee
OF – Jin Seong Kang
OF – Dong-Yeop Kim
