This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
Kiwoom Heroes (6-5) vs LG Twins (7-3)
Sunday, May 17, 1:00 AM EDT
Projected starters
LHP Eric Jokisch (1-0, 0.82 ERA) vs LHP Woo-chan Cha (2-0, 3.75 ERA)
Game Preview
The Heroes and the Twins will meet Sunday for the finale of their three-game set, a series which has been all Twins so far. After Friday's game got rained out, the Twins won both halves of Saturday's double-header to keep rising on the standings. Those two wins pushed their winning streak to six games, earning a share of second place with a 7-3 record. Kiwoom, on the other hand, extended their losing skid to four games to fall to 6-5. It will be a lefty vs. lefty duel on the mound, with Eric Jokisch facing Woo-chan Cha. Jokisch has been magnificent for the Heroes thus far with just two runs allowed in 11.0 innings of work. Cha, on the other hand, allowed four runs across six innings in his most recent start.
Injuries
Byung Wook Lim – Heroes – Day-To-Day – Hamstring
Lim left the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the LG Twins with a right hamstring injury, The Chosun Ilbo reports. Lim legged out a bunt single on the play but felt pain in his right leg and went to the hospital immediately for an MRI. The Heroes lose some speed atop the batting order with Lim sidelined, missing out on his three steals through the first nine games.
Taylor Motter – Heroes – Out – Not
Kiwoom Heroes (6-5) vs LG Twins (7-3)
Sunday, May 17, 1:00 AM EDT
Projected starters
LHP Eric Jokisch (1-0, 0.82 ERA) vs LHP Woo-chan Cha (2-0, 3.75 ERA)
Game Preview
The Heroes and the Twins will meet Sunday for the finale of their three-game set, a series which has been all Twins so far. After Friday's game got rained out, the Twins won both halves of Saturday's double-header to keep rising on the standings. Those two wins pushed their winning streak to six games, earning a share of second place with a 7-3 record. Kiwoom, on the other hand, extended their losing skid to four games to fall to 6-5. It will be a lefty vs. lefty duel on the mound, with Eric Jokisch facing Woo-chan Cha. Jokisch has been magnificent for the Heroes thus far with just two runs allowed in 11.0 innings of work. Cha, on the other hand, allowed four runs across six innings in his most recent start.
Injuries
Byung Wook Lim – Heroes – Day-To-Day – Hamstring
Lim left the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the LG Twins with a right hamstring injury, The Chosun Ilbo reports. Lim legged out a bunt single on the play but felt pain in his right leg and went to the hospital immediately for an MRI. The Heroes lose some speed atop the batting order with Lim sidelined, missing out on his three steals through the first nine games.
Taylor Motter – Heroes – Out – Not Injury Related
Motter was removed from Kiwoom's entry ahead of the club's doubleheader with the LG Twins, according to nocutnews.co.kr. In what amounts to a temporary demotion for Motter, Kiwoom granted him some personal time to spend with his wife, who went into mandatory quarantine upon entering Korea. Motter will be off the roster for at least 10 days, and in his absence Byung Woo Jeon and Joo Hyung Kim will share the third-base duties.
Min Seong Kim – Twins – Day-To-Day – Thigh
Kim exited the first game of Saturday's doubleheader versus the Heroes due to a thigh injury, The Chosun Ilbo reports. Kim drew a walk in his first at-bat of the contest but reportedly felt some pain in the second and was replaced by Seung Hyun Baek. The extent of his injury is unclear, but it's a tough blow for the Twins, as they lose a hitter in the heart of their batting order. It will be worth monitoring if he can rejoin the action in Sunday's series finale.
Woo Seok Ko – Twins – Out – Knee
Ko will undergo left knee surgery, according to KBO analyst Jin-Hyeok Jang. Ko is not being officially ruled out for the season yet, but that is a possibility, and even in the best-case scenario he's headed for a prolonged absence.
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 - Eric Jokisch
2. Ha Seong Kim
4. ByungHo Park
5. Hye Sung Kim
6. Ji Young Lee
LG Twins Expected Lineup:
SP - Woo-chan Cha
2. Hyun Soo Kim
7. Ji Hwan Oh
8. Kang Nam Yoo
Top picks:
Roberto Ramos, Twins: Ramos went 1-for-4 with two walks and a home run during Saturday's double-header. LG's cleanup hitter continues to produce at a steady rate, posting an impressive .400/.512/.829 slash line through his first 42 plate appearances. He has hit safely in nine of 10 games so far and should remain an integral part of the Twins' red-hot offense. He should be worth his deservedly expensive price tag.
Eric Jokisch, Heroes: It's only been two starts, but Jokisch already looks like one of the best pitchers in the KBO this season. He has a 0.82 ERA, a 0.82 WHIP, 11 strikeouts and just a single walk in 11 innings of work. After those dominant first two outings, if there's anyone that can silence the strong Twins offense, it's him.
Hyun Soo Kim, Twins: Kim went a modest 2-for-9 during Saturday's double-header, but he remains a threatening presence every time he steps into the batter's box. He forms a strong duo with Ramos to lead the Twins' offense and continues to hit above the .400 mark through his first 45 plate appearances. If the Twins remain hot, expect Kim to be part of that.
Jeong Hoo Lee, Heroes: It's hard to find a reliable bat in the Heroes lineup, but Lee fits the bill here. The outfielder, who's gone 2-for-7 against the Twins this season, is riding a three-game hitting streak and has hit safely in seven of his last eight contests. He could be the source of offense the Heroes have needed over the last few days.
Captaincy Options:
2. Eric Jokisch
3. Hyun Soo Kim
Dream11 Team
P – Eric Jokisch
C – Kang Nam Yoo
IF – Roberto Ramos (C)
IF – Keon Chang Seo
IF – Ha Seong Kim
OF – Hyun Soo Kim (VC)
OF – Jeong Hoo Lee
OF – Eun Seong Chae
OF – Chun Woong Lee
