This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
Kiwoom Heroes (42-31) at Samsung Lions (35-36)
Saturday, August 1st, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Jake Brigham (1-1, 3.54 ERA) vs RHP David Buchanan (8-5, 3.57 ERA)
Game Preview
The Heroes have consistently been one of the best teams in the KBO this season, and their record backs that up since they currently sit in second place while playing 11 games over the .500 threshold. Meanwhile, the Lions have been consistently inconsistent all year long and are just one game under .500 after a 4-6 record in their last 10 games. For what is worth, the Heroes are 5-5 over that same 10-game stretch. The pitching duel will feature two arms who have had similar results in 2020, as Jake Brigham (3.54 ERA) will go up against David Buchanan (3.57 ERA). The difference between them – and what might tip the scales in Buchanan's favor – is the fact the Lions hurler has a 2.06 ERA in his last five starts, while Brigham owns a 4.01 ERA in that same stretch, while also dealing with an elbow injury.
Injuries
Kiwoom Heroes
Byung Wook Lim - 10-Day IL - Hamstring
7/22 2:22 AM IST - Lim is still dealing with inflammation in his right hamstring and remains without a clear timeline to rejoin the Heroes' active roster, Soo-Jin Park of the Money Today Star News reports. When Lim went down with the injury in the second game of a doubleheader with the Twins on May 16, the Heroes projected him
Kiwoom Heroes (42-31) at Samsung Lions (35-36)
Saturday, August 1st, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Jake Brigham (1-1, 3.54 ERA) vs RHP David Buchanan (8-5, 3.57 ERA)
Game Preview
The Heroes have consistently been one of the best teams in the KBO this season, and their record backs that up since they currently sit in second place while playing 11 games over the .500 threshold. Meanwhile, the Lions have been consistently inconsistent all year long and are just one game under .500 after a 4-6 record in their last 10 games. For what is worth, the Heroes are 5-5 over that same 10-game stretch. The pitching duel will feature two arms who have had similar results in 2020, as Jake Brigham (3.54 ERA) will go up against David Buchanan (3.57 ERA). The difference between them – and what might tip the scales in Buchanan's favor – is the fact the Lions hurler has a 2.06 ERA in his last five starts, while Brigham owns a 4.01 ERA in that same stretch, while also dealing with an elbow injury.
Injuries
Kiwoom Heroes
Byung Wook Lim - 10-Day IL - Hamstring
7/22 2:22 AM IST - Lim is still dealing with inflammation in his right hamstring and remains without a clear timeline to rejoin the Heroes' active roster, Soo-Jin Park of the Money Today Star News reports. When Lim went down with the injury in the second game of a doubleheader with the Twins on May 16, the Heroes projected him to miss 6-to-8 weeks. That timeline was evidently too conservative, as the outfielder is not yet ready to even begin a rehab assignment in the Futures League some two months later. Prior to going down with the injury, Lim had appeared in 11 games for the Heroes, hitting .278 with three stolen bases and six RBI.
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.
Samsung Lions
Jung Hyun Baek - Out - Elbow
7/23 1:53 AM IST - Samsung removed Baek from its active roster Wednesday due to a left elbow sprain, Hyun-Seok Jeong of The Chosun Ilbo reports. The southpaw picked up the injury coming out of his start Tuesday, during which he surrendered five runs on nine hits over 5.1 innings. Seong Hwan Yoon is expected to assume Baek's spot in the rotation.
Young Jin Choi - Out - Ankle
7/28 2:51 AM IST - Choi will miss about six weeks with an ankle injury, according to chosun.com. Choi was diagnosed with ligament damage after leaving Sunday's game with the injury, and he is now facing an extended absence. Choi has been one of the Lions' top hitters against lefties this season, but the team will need to turn elsewhere against southpaws until he is ready to return.
Yoon Dong Heo - Out - Not Injury Related
7/17 8:44 PM IST - Heo was removed from the Lions' roster on Friday, according to the team's official Twitter account. Heo started for the Lions for nearly the past two months, but with Ben Lively returning to action he will be bumped from the rotation -- and the roster altogether. The 19-year-old Heo held his own at the top level, so he should garner consideration next time the Lions need to add a starter to the roster.
Hyun Joon Im - Out - Not Injury Related
6/29 10:56 PM IST - Im was removed from the Lions' first-team roster Monday, according to the team's official Twitter account. Im was not scored upon in his first 15 appearances out of Samsung's bullpen, but he was tagged for three earned runs over his last five outings, so the team decided to give him a break. He will be eligible to rejoin Samsung's top team during the second week of July.
Min Ho Kang - 10-Day IL - Shoulder
7/31 2:24 PM IST - Kang was placed on the injured list Friday because of pain in his right shoulder, per mbcsportsplus.com. Samsung promoted catcher Eung Min Kim before Friday's game against the Heroes. Kang is likely out for the Kiwoom series, but he reportedly could return at some point next week. The 34-year-old had provided a .362/.414/.625 slash line and 20 RBI since returning from his previous stint on the injured list in June.
Dong Yeop Kim - Out - Not Injury Related
7/22 3:48 PM IST - Kim was removed from the first team Wednesday, per Samsung's official Twitter page. Jun Seok Song entered the roster in place of the 29-year-old. Kim has recently not been favored by new manager Sam Young Heo, playing just three games since July 11. He is batting .258 with six home runs and 28 RBI over 182 at-bats this season.
Heon Gon Kim - Out - Not Injury Related
7/3 2:41 PM IST - Kim was removed from the first-team roster Friday, according to the Lions' official Twitter page. Samsung will demote the 31-year-old for the second time this season, the first instance occurring June 5. Kim continued to struggle upon his return to the Lions, producing just a .630 OPS through 11 games. Samsung promoted Jun Seok Song to the first team ahead of Friday's game against LG.
Daniel Palka - Out - Not Injury Related
7/29 2:04 PM IST - Palka has signed a contract with the Lions, Jee Ho Yoo of the Yonhap News Agency reports. Samsung placed Tyler Saladino on waivers Wednesday and added the 28-year-old as his replacement. Palka hit a team-leading 27 home runs with the Chicago White Sox in 2018, but he opted to play overseas after making no appearances since September 2019. The outfielder will look to debut for Samsung sometime during August upon completing his mandatory quarantine period. Palka is likely to slide in at right field, starting alongside Ja Wook Koo and Hae Min Park.
Kiwoom Heroes Expected Lineup
SP - Jake Brigham
2. Ha Seong Kim
4. Jung Hoo Lee
7. Hye Sung Kim
8. Ju Hong Park
Samsung Lions Expected Lineup
SP - David Buchanan
1. Sang Su Kim
2. Ja Wook Koo
3. Hak Ju Lee
4. Won Seok Lee
6. Sung Gyu Lee
7. Hae Min Park
8. Min Soo Kim
9. Chan Do Park
Top Picks
Jung Hoo Lee, Heroes: Lee is riding a four-game hitting streak, and he ended July hitting for .319 with five homers, six doubles, 22 RBI, and a 9:8 BB:K ratio. He has been one of the most consistent offensive threats for the Heroes all year long.
Addison Russell, Heroes: Russell went 2-for-5 with a home run, a double, two RBI and two runs in Friday's victory over the Lions. The former Chicago Cubs shortstop is hitting .357 (5-for-14) with one homer and five RBI in his first three KBO contests.
Keon Chang Seo, Heroes: Seo has gone hitless in his last three appearances, but he remains a reliable threat at the top of the Heroes' lineup. Even with that mini slump, he still hit .286 with a .791 OPS and five RBI during July.
Hak Ju Lee, Lions: Lee is now hitting in the middle of the order for the Lions, but his numbers do not inspire a lot of confidence. He is hitting just .214 in his last eight games, although he has reached base safely in six of those contests.
Captaincy Options
Dream11 Team
P – Jake Brigham
C – Ji Young Lee
IF – Addison Russell (VC)
IF – Keon Chang Seo
IF – Hak Ju Lee
IF – Ji Chan Kim
OF – Chan Do Park
OF – Joon Tae Park
OF – Jung Hoo Lee (C)
