This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
Kiwoom Heroes (14-12) vs Hanwha Eagles (7-19)
Thursday, June 4, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected starters
LHP Eric Jokisch (4-0, 0.90 ERA) vs Min Woo Kim (0-2, 3.90 ERA)
Game Preview
The Heroes enter this matchup on a two-game winning streak and while they've gone 5-5 over their last 10 contests, it seems things are looking up for them following several displays of inconsistency in late May. The Eagles, on the hand, have fallen to the bottom of the standings with a 7-19 record. They head into this matchup on a 10-game losing streak following a 6-2 loss against the Heroes on Wednesday. The Heroes will aim to extend their winning run by sending Eric Jokisch to the mound, a lefty who has posted a sizzling 0.90 ERA thus far in 2020. The Eagles will counter with Min Woo Kim, who is coming off an awful start last week, where he gave up six runs in 3.2 innings against the Wyverns.
Injuries
Ju Seok Ha – Eagles – 10-Day IL – Thigh
June 2 - Eagles manager Yong-duk Han admitted Tuesday that Ha (thigh) is recovering from his injury slower than anticipated and will likely be sidelined until July, The Chosun Ilbo reports. When Ha injured his right thigh in a May 17 game, the Eagles were optimistic that he would complete his rehab in four weeks and rejoin the club around mid-to-late June. The shortstop's recovery timeline now looks like it will fall more in the six-week range, if
Kiwoom Heroes (14-12) vs Hanwha Eagles (7-19)
Thursday, June 4, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected starters
LHP Eric Jokisch (4-0, 0.90 ERA) vs Min Woo Kim (0-2, 3.90 ERA)
Game Preview
The Heroes enter this matchup on a two-game winning streak and while they've gone 5-5 over their last 10 contests, it seems things are looking up for them following several displays of inconsistency in late May. The Eagles, on the hand, have fallen to the bottom of the standings with a 7-19 record. They head into this matchup on a 10-game losing streak following a 6-2 loss against the Heroes on Wednesday. The Heroes will aim to extend their winning run by sending Eric Jokisch to the mound, a lefty who has posted a sizzling 0.90 ERA thus far in 2020. The Eagles will counter with Min Woo Kim, who is coming off an awful start last week, where he gave up six runs in 3.2 innings against the Wyverns.
Injuries
Ju Seok Ha – Eagles – 10-Day IL – Thigh
June 2 - Eagles manager Yong-duk Han admitted Tuesday that Ha (thigh) is recovering from his injury slower than anticipated and will likely be sidelined until July, The Chosun Ilbo reports. When Ha injured his right thigh in a May 17 game, the Eagles were optimistic that he would complete his rehab in four weeks and rejoin the club around mid-to-late June. The shortstop's recovery timeline now looks like it will fall more in the six-week range, if not longer, given his lack of progress to date. Ha's ongoing absence should continue to open up regular work for Si Hwan Noh in the middle infield.
Sun Jin Oh – Eagles – 10-Day IL – Thigh
June 2 - Eagles manager Yong-duk Han said Tuesday that Oh (thigh) is recovering from his injury slower than anticipated and will likely be sidelined until July, The Chosun Ilbo reports. Hanwha has been down its top two shortstops in Ju Seok Ha and Oh since mid-May while both have battled thigh injuries, opening up regular work in the middle infield for Si Hwan Noh. Though Ha and Oh were both expected to require only four weeks to heal up from their respective injuries, the limited progress both players have made to date appears to have prompted Hanwha to push their recovery timelines back to at least six weeks. Before going down with the injury, Oh went 9-for-26 with a home run, two doubles and five RBI in nine games with Hanwha.
Byung Wook Lim – Heroes – 10-Day IL – Hamstring
May 17 - Lim (hamstring) is expected to be sidelined 6-to-8 weeks, Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News reports. The 24-year-old went down during the second game of Saturday's doubleheader with a right hamstring injury, and he may end up spending two months on the injured list. Lim had a .278/.366/.389 slash line with four doubles and three stolen bases through 11 games.
Kiwoom Heroes Expected Lineup:
SP - Eric Jokisch
2. Ha Seong Kim
4. ByungHo Park
7. Hye Sung Kim
8. Gyu Min Kim
Hanwha Eagles Expected Lineup:
SP - Min Woo Kim
1. Eun Won Jung
2. Jin Ho Jeong
3. Jared Hoying
4. Tae-Kyun Kim
8. Si Hwan Noh
9. Yong-Kyu Lee
Top picks:
Eric Jokisch, Heroes: Jokisch has been nearly unhittable this season and is one of the main reasons why the Heroes occupy a playoff spot. The lefty tossed seven scoreless innings in his previous start and is lined up for another strong effort, as the Eagles have a poor .241 batting average as a team in 2020.
Jeong Hoo Lee, Heroes: Lee has been destroying the Eagles' pitching all season long. He's hit .421 with a .500 on-base percentage in 19 at-bats against Hanwha in 2020, hitting two homers and driving in four runs.
Ha Seong Kim, Heroes: Kim has hit .316 with an impressive .458 on-base percentage against the Eagles this season in 19 at-bats. The shortstop enters this game on a four-game hitting streak after going 3-for-4 during Wednesday's contest.
Si Hwan Noh, Eagles: There aren't many Eagles who look like good value in this matchup, but Noh could be an intriguing option. He is quite cheap – just 7.5 credits – and has been one of the best hitters on the roster this season, although he enters this game having grabbed just one hit in his last 13 at-bats.
Captaincy Options:
1. Eric Jokisch
3. Ha Seong Kim
Dream11 Team
P – Eric Jokisch (C)
C – Dong Won Park
IF – Ha Seong Kim
IF – Keon Chang Seo
IF – Si Hwan Noh
OF – Jeong Hoo Lee (VC)
OF – Dong Hoon Lee
OF – Joon Tae Park
OF – Jang Hyeok Yoo
