This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
NC Dinos (46-26-2) at Kia Tigers (40-34)
Sunday, August 9th, 4:00 AM EDT
Projected Starters
LHP Sung Young Choi (1-1, 5.19 ERA) vs RHP Ki Young Im (6-5, 4.08 ERA)
Game Preview
The Dinos remain at the top of the KBO standings ahead of the 2020 season, but there's no question they have been struggling over the last few weeks as they've stumbled to a 3-7 record in their last 10 games. The Tigers, on the other hand, are on the rise with a 5-5 record in that same span but coming off back-to-back wins. Kia secured a 3-2 win over the Dinos on Saturday, so now the Dinos only have a 3.0-game lead over the Kiwoom Heroes at the top of the standings. The pitching matchup for this game will feature a lefty, Sung Young Choi, for the Dinos and a righty, Ki Young Im, for the Tigers. Neither player has an ERA that would stand out, but Choi has posted a 4.73 ERA in his last five starts, while Im has delivered a 6.12 mark in that same span.
Injuries
Kia Tigers
Dae In Hwang - 10-Day IL - Undisclosed
7/11 9:44 PM IST - Hwang went 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI in an 8-3 win over Kiwoom on Saturday. Kia manager Matt Williams decided to rest regular starter Min Sang Yoo for the 24-year-old Hwang, who did not disappoint. Despite hitting just four home runs before Saturday, Hwang launched homers toward opposite
NC Dinos (46-26-2) at Kia Tigers (40-34)
Sunday, August 9th, 4:00 AM EDT
Projected Starters
LHP Sung Young Choi (1-1, 5.19 ERA) vs RHP Ki Young Im (6-5, 4.08 ERA)
Game Preview
The Dinos remain at the top of the KBO standings ahead of the 2020 season, but there's no question they have been struggling over the last few weeks as they've stumbled to a 3-7 record in their last 10 games. The Tigers, on the other hand, are on the rise with a 5-5 record in that same span but coming off back-to-back wins. Kia secured a 3-2 win over the Dinos on Saturday, so now the Dinos only have a 3.0-game lead over the Kiwoom Heroes at the top of the standings. The pitching matchup for this game will feature a lefty, Sung Young Choi, for the Dinos and a righty, Ki Young Im, for the Tigers. Neither player has an ERA that would stand out, but Choi has posted a 4.73 ERA in his last five starts, while Im has delivered a 6.12 mark in that same span.
Injuries
Kia Tigers
Dae In Hwang - 10-Day IL - Undisclosed
7/11 9:44 PM IST - Hwang went 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI in an 8-3 win over Kiwoom on Saturday. Kia manager Matt Williams decided to rest regular starter Min Sang Yoo for the 24-year-old Hwang, who did not disappoint. Despite hitting just four home runs before Saturday, Hwang launched homers toward opposite sides of the field to help the Tigers win. The first baseman has played only eight games since June 1, but he could see some opportunities to shine on days Yoo is resting.
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.
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.
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.
NC Dinos
Aaron Altherr - 10-Day IL - Thumb
8/2 2:04 PM IST - Altherr was placed on the injured list Sunday because of a left thumb injury, per OSEN News. NC promoted Joon Wan Kim before Sunday's game against the Bears. It remains unclear how long Altherr will be out, but his absence is a significant blow to the Dinos. The 29-year-old ranked second in home runs (19) and RBI (64) at the time of his injury.
Jin Sung Kang - Out - Thumb
8/7 11:04 PM IST - Kang (thumb) was removed from the Dinos' roster Friday, according to Su Jin Park of Star News. Kang was presumably placed on the injured list after leaving Thursday's contest with the thumb injury. The extent of his injury is uncertain, so it remains to be seen how long he will be sidelined.
Tae Jin Kim - 10-Day IL - Ankle
7/11 1:59 AM IST - Kim will miss four weeks with the ankle injury he suffered Wednesday, according to chosun.com. Kim is not a starter when the Dinos' infield is healthy, but he is the team's top reserve infielder, and his injury will force manager Dong Wook Lee to turn elsewhere when he wants to give one of his regulars a day off in the coming weeks.
Chang Mo Koo - Out - Not Injury Related
7/27 11:46 PM IST - Koo will get extra rest after his last start Sunday and will be skipped next time through the Dinos' rotation, according to hankyung.com. The decision to skip Koo is certainly not performance-related, as he leads the entire league in both ERA and strikeouts. However, he is on pace to easily surpass the career-high 133 innings he threw in 2018, so the first-place Dinos will take the opportunity to manage his workload. He will rejoin NC's rotation at some point in early August.
Min Woo Park - 10-Day IL - Hamstring
8/4 3:56 PM IST - Park landed on the injured list Tuesday because of hamstring pain, per mydaily.co.kr. Park's hamstrings have come into play again by forcing the second baseman to miss more time. The 27-year-old previously sat out five games with a hamstring injury at the beginning of July. NC promoted Joon Young Park before Tuesday's postponed game against the Eagles.
Kia Tigers Expected Lineup
SP - Ki Young Im
1. Ho Ryung Kim
2. Sun Bin Kim
5. Ji Wan Na
6. Min Sang Yoo
7. Joo Hwan Na
9. Chan Ho Park
NC Dinos Expected Lineup
SP - Sung Young Choi
1. Myung Gi Lee
3. Sung Bum Na
4. Eui Ji Yang
5. Suk Min Park
6. Jin Hyuk No
7. Chang Min Mo
8. Won Jae Lee
9. Suk Hoon Ji
Top Picks
Sung Bum Na, Dinos: Na has been one of the most consistent hitters in the Dinos lineup this season, but he might have to carry a bigger load offensively now that Aaron Altherr is sidelined with an injury. The slugger has three homers in his last 10 games but has only hit .231 in that span.
Eui Ji Yang, Dinos: Yang is undoubtedly the top catching alternative in the league, and he could be worthy of a captaincy role in this contest. He has 10 home runs and 51 RBI this season but, just like the entire Dinos offense, he is in a bit of slump – he has gone hitless in his last four games.
Sun Bin Kim, Tigers: Kim has gone just 3-for-22 in his last six games, so he hasn't been able to regain his timing at the plate after a long time injured. However, he owns a .500 average in 12 at-bats against the Dinos this season. He might rediscover his form in this one.
Hee Dong Kwon, Dinos: Kwon has reached base safely in four of the team's last five games, and that should be enough to give him a deep look for a captaincy role in this contest. The NC offense has struggled over the last few days, but Kwon could provide a spark.
Captaincy Options
Dream11 Team
P – Sung Young Choi
C – Eui Ji Yang (VC)
IF – Sun Bin Kim
IF – Joo Hwan Na
IF – Jin Hyuk No
IF – Suk Min Park
OF – Sung Bum Na (C)
OF – Hee Dong Kwon
OF – Ho Ryung Kim
