This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
Samsung Lions (19-20) at Kia Tigers (21-17)
Friday, June 19th, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP David Buchanan (5-2, 3.63 ERA) vs RHP Drew Gagnon (3-3, 3.57 ERA)
Game Preview
The Lions and the Tigers both sit in the middle of the standings, though both are trending up lately. The Tigers have won six of their last eight contests, including two against the league-leading Dinos. Meanwhile, the Lions have the same 6-2 record over their last eight games, defeating the Bears and Heroes twice each. The Tigers will send Gagnon to the mound, a 29-year-old righty who has looked decent of late after giving up three or fewer runs in four of his last five starts. The Lions will counter with David Buchanan, who has been one of the team's best pitchers this year. He has gone 5-2 with a 3.63 ERA and he has allowed a total of three runs in his last four starts.
Injuries
Min Ho Kang, Lions - Out - Side
June 18 - Kang is dealing with side soreness and was removed from Samsung's roster Thursday, according to chosun.com. Kang played sparingly the last few days and is still feeling discomfort, so the Lions decided to drop him from the roster for the time being. Eung Min Kim is getting the first chance to replace Yang, but he has posted just a .361 OPS this season, so Min Soo Kim could also see some action in Kang's absence.
Sun Bin Kim, Tigers
Samsung Lions (19-20) at Kia Tigers (21-17)
Friday, June 19th, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP David Buchanan (5-2, 3.63 ERA) vs RHP Drew Gagnon (3-3, 3.57 ERA)
Game Preview
The Lions and the Tigers both sit in the middle of the standings, though both are trending up lately. The Tigers have won six of their last eight contests, including two against the league-leading Dinos. Meanwhile, the Lions have the same 6-2 record over their last eight games, defeating the Bears and Heroes twice each. The Tigers will send Gagnon to the mound, a 29-year-old righty who has looked decent of late after giving up three or fewer runs in four of his last five starts. The Lions will counter with David Buchanan, who has been one of the team's best pitchers this year. He has gone 5-2 with a 3.63 ERA and he has allowed a total of three runs in his last four starts.
Injuries
Min Ho Kang, Lions - Out - Side
June 18 - Kang is dealing with side soreness and was removed from Samsung's roster Thursday, according to chosun.com. Kang played sparingly the last few days and is still feeling discomfort, so the Lions decided to drop him from the roster for the time being. Eung Min Kim is getting the first chance to replace Yang, but he has posted just a .361 OPS this season, so Min Soo Kim could also see some action in Kang's absence.
Sun Bin Kim, Tigers - 10-Day IL - Hamstring
June 18 - Manager Matt Williams said Thursday that Kim is still feeling soreness in his injured hamstring, according to chosun.com. The Tigers are taking the cautious route with Kim's recovery, but he did not suffer any structural damage and according to Williams, will be able to rejoin the lineup "as soon as he feels better." As such, it does not appear he will be sidelined much longer.
Chang Jin Lee, Tigers - Out - Back
May 26 - Tigers manager Matt Williams said Tuesday that Lee (back) has resumed hitting on the field, Jin-Hee Kim of The Chosun Ilbo reports. Lee has been sidelined since February due to a recurring disc issue in his back, but he appears to have made substantial progress over the past three months. Williams noted that Lee will still have to go through full defensive drills before he's ready for game action, with the 29-year-old most likely headed for the Futures League to get some competitive at-bats under his belt. Lee handled an everyday role for Kia in the 2019 season, slashing .270/.367/.382 with six home runs and eight stolen bases across 470 plate appearances.
Ji Hyuk Ryu, Tigers - Out - Hamstring
June 19 - The Tigers are bracing for Ryu to miss at least two months after he suffered a torn left hamstring Sunday, Jin-Hoe Kim of The Chosun Ilbo reports. Though a clearer timeline will emerge for Ryu once he's re-evaluated at the end of the month, the Tigers apparently aren't banking on the infielder getting the green light from doctors to resume training right away following his checkup. With Ryu's absence seemingly on track to extend through mid-August, Joo Hwan Na could be in store for a lengthy run as the Tigers' everyday third baseman.
Samsung Lions Expected Lineup
SP - David Buchanan
1. Sang Su Kim
2. Ja Wook Koo
4. Won Seok Lee
5. Hak Ju Lee
6. Sung Gyu Lee
8. Eung Min Kim
9. Hae Min Park
Kia Tigers Expected Lineup
SP - Drew Gagnon
1. Ho Ryung Kim
4. Ji Wan Na
5. Joo Chan Kim
7. Joo Hwan Na
9. Chan Ho Park
Top picks
Preston Tucker, Tigers: Tucker has swung one of the hottest bats in the KBO this season and has looked dominant all year long, but he seems to have stepped things up a bit in June with a slash line of .365/.441/.635 to go along with four homers and 12 RBI. He has six hits in 10 at-bats against the Lions this year.
Hyung Woo Choi, Tigers: Choi has hit safely in each of the last five games he's played since missing a game on June 11 due to a back problem. He has driven six runs during that stretch and remains a productive hitter near the top of Kia's lineup.
Drew Gagnon, Tigers: Gagnon has allowed no more than three runs in four of his last five starts, posting a 2.70 ERA with a 0.93 WHIP and a 9.3 K/9 during that stretch. He should be in for a strong performance against a Lions lineup that has hit just .253 as a team this season.
Tyler Saladino, Lions: Saladino is not listed in the Tigers-based team below due to budget constraints, but he would be a good captain choice at the heart of a Lions-based squad. He's hit just .182 in 11 at-bats against the Tigers, but he is slashing .302/.483/.605 overall in the month of June.
Captaincy Options
3. Drew Gagnon
Dream11 Team
P – Drew Gagnon
C – Eung Min Kim
IF – Chan Ho Park
IF – Sang Su Kim
IF – Ji Chan Kim
OF – Preston Tucker (C)
OF – Hyung Woo Choi
OF – Ho Ryung Kim
OF – Seon Woo Oh
