Kiwoom Heroes (6-3) vs LG Twins (5-3)
Saturday, May 16, 1:00 AM EDT
Projected starters
RHP Jake Brigham (0-0, 3.68 ERA) vs RHP Casey Kelly (0-0, 22.50 ERA)
Game Preview
The Heroes and the Twins did not play their Friday matchup as it was rained out, but both teams are ready to clash on Saturday with different goals in mind. The visiting Heroes are looking to snap a two-game losing streak that has them tied for second place in the standings with a 6-3 record. Meanwhile, the Twins are on the rise and sit in fifth place at 5-3 and will be looking for their fifth straight win. The Heroes will send Jake Brigham to the mound, a 32-year-old who should feel good about his first two starts this season. The same can't be said about the Twins' expected starter, Casey Kelly, who was roughed up for five runs in just two innings in his debut on May 10 against the Dinos.
Injuries
Woo Seok Ko – Twins – Out - Knee
Ko will undergo left knee surgery next week, KBO analyst Jin-Hyeok Jang reports. He is not being officially ruled out for the season yet, but that is a possibility.
Hyung Jong Lee – Twins – Out - Wrist
Lee, who suffered a fractured wrist in a preseason game, is expected to return in late May or early June, Newsis News Agency reports. Lee broke the fifth metacarpal in his left hand, but he should be a big
Kiwoom Heroes (6-3) vs LG Twins (5-3)
Saturday, May 16, 1:00 AM EDT
Projected starters
RHP Jake Brigham (0-0, 3.68 ERA) vs RHP Casey Kelly (0-0, 22.50 ERA)
Game Preview
The Heroes and the Twins did not play their Friday matchup as it was rained out, but both teams are ready to clash on Saturday with different goals in mind. The visiting Heroes are looking to snap a two-game losing streak that has them tied for second place in the standings with a 6-3 record. Meanwhile, the Twins are on the rise and sit in fifth place at 5-3 and will be looking for their fifth straight win. The Heroes will send Jake Brigham to the mound, a 32-year-old who should feel good about his first two starts this season. The same can't be said about the Twins' expected starter, Casey Kelly, who was roughed up for five runs in just two innings in his debut on May 10 against the Dinos.
Injuries
Woo Seok Ko – Twins – Out - Knee
Ko will undergo left knee surgery next week, KBO analyst Jin-Hyeok Jang reports. He is not being officially ruled out for the season yet, but that is a possibility.
Hyung Jong Lee – Twins – Out - Wrist
Lee, who suffered a fractured wrist in a preseason game, is expected to return in late May or early June, Newsis News Agency reports. Lee broke the fifth metacarpal in his left hand, but he should be a big part of LG's offense when he returns after hitting .286 with 13 home runs and an .800 OPS last season. Yong-taik Park has received more playing time as a result of Lee's injury.
Kiwoom Heroes Expected Lineup:
SP - Jake Brigham
2. Ha Seong Kim
4. ByungHo Park
6. Ji Young Lee
LG Twins Expected Lineup:
SP - Casey Kelly
2. Hyun Soo Kim
8. Kang Nam Yoo
9. Ji Hwan Oh
Top picks:
Roberto Ramos, Twins: Ramos currently sports the league's second-best slugging percentage with a .806 mark, and he complements that with a stellar .419 average and a 1.292 OPS through his first eight games (35 at-bats). That's only translated to a modest six RBI so far, but he's seeing the ball extremely well and seems to be a lock to produce at least a couple of hits on a daily basis.
Hyun Soo Kim, Twins: Kim's hitting streak ended at seven games following a 0-for-2 performance Thursday, but he still enters this game as an offensive force to be reckoned with. Kim has been one of the top hitters in the KBO this season thanks to an impressive .455/.514/.727 slash line and has driven in nine runs through his first eight games.
Jeong Hoo Lee, Heroes: Lee has been one of Kiwoom's top hitters in the early going, sporting a 1.110 OPS and a .355/.432/.677 slash line. He's coming off a 2-for-4 day the last time out and has reached base safely in eight of the team's nine games to date. His consistency could pay dividends against the Twins.
Jake Brigham, Heroes: Brigham has started the season on a strong note, notching seven strikeouts in 7.1 innings while allowing just three earned runs across his first two starts. The Twins are on a four-game winning streak, but Brigham's performances thus far suggest he has a good shot to put an end to that.
Captaincy Options:
1. Roberto Ramos (C)
2. Hyun Soo Kim (VC)
Dream11 Team
P – Jake Brigham
C – Ji Young Lee
IF – Roberto Ramos (C)
IF – Keon Chang Seo
IF – Ha Seong Kim
OF – Hyun Soo Kim (VC)
OF – Jeong Hoo Lee
OF – Byung Wook Lim
OF – Chun Woong Lee
