This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
Kia Tigers (15-14) at Doosan Bears (18-10)
Sunday, June 7, 4:00 AM EDT
Projected starters
RHP Ki Young Im (2-3, 3.67 ERA) vs LHP Hui Kwan Yu (3-1, 3.86 ERA)
Game Preview
The Bears are coming off a 4-3 win over the Tigers on Saturday, their third straight win, while the Tigers have now dropped two in a row. The Bears have cemented their place as one of the top teams in the league this season, sitting in second place, just four games behind the league-leading Dinos. The Tigers will attempt to end their losing run by sending Ki Young Im to the mound. Despite his losing record, he enters this game with a decent 3.67 ERA. He delivered a strong performance in his previous outing, giving up just two earned runs across six innings en route to a win. The Bears will counter with Hui Kwan Yu, who got roughed up for four earned runs in six frames the last time out. The veteran lefty's 1.64 WHIP doesn't support his 3.67 ERA very well, indicating that he could see that number rise in the coming weeks.
Injuries
Kyoung Min Heo – Bears – Out – Finger
June 4 - Heo will miss 1-to-2 weeks with a fracture in his right little finger, according to Tae Woo Kim of SpoTV. Heo was a late scratch from Wednesday's lineup because of his injury, and he will now miss several more games for the same reason.
Soo Bin Jung – Bears
Kia Tigers (15-14) at Doosan Bears (18-10)
Sunday, June 7, 4:00 AM EDT
Projected starters
RHP Ki Young Im (2-3, 3.67 ERA) vs LHP Hui Kwan Yu (3-1, 3.86 ERA)
Game Preview
The Bears are coming off a 4-3 win over the Tigers on Saturday, their third straight win, while the Tigers have now dropped two in a row. The Bears have cemented their place as one of the top teams in the league this season, sitting in second place, just four games behind the league-leading Dinos. The Tigers will attempt to end their losing run by sending Ki Young Im to the mound. Despite his losing record, he enters this game with a decent 3.67 ERA. He delivered a strong performance in his previous outing, giving up just two earned runs across six innings en route to a win. The Bears will counter with Hui Kwan Yu, who got roughed up for four earned runs in six frames the last time out. The veteran lefty's 1.64 WHIP doesn't support his 3.67 ERA very well, indicating that he could see that number rise in the coming weeks.
Injuries
Kyoung Min Heo – Bears – Out – Finger
June 4 - Heo will miss 1-to-2 weeks with a fracture in his right little finger, according to Tae Woo Kim of SpoTV. Heo was a late scratch from Wednesday's lineup because of his injury, and he will now miss several more games for the same reason.
Soo Bin Jung – Bears – Day-To-Day – Foot
June 6 - Jung (foot) is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Tigers, according to the Bears' official Twitter account. Jung remains on the Bears' roster, but he will be held out for a third game in a row. As was the case the last two days, Kun Woo Park will fill in atop the order and in center field.
Jae Won Oh – Bears – 10-Day IL – Hamstring
June 6 - Oh (hamstring) was placed on the injured list Saturday, Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net reports. Oh exited Friday's game with a hamstring injury that is evidently severe enough to land him on the injured list, although it's unclear when he'll be healthy enough to return. The team called up Ye Il Seo in a corresponding move.
Joo Chan Kim – Tigers – Out – Thigh
May 17 - Kim (thigh) has resumed playing in Futures League games, according to chosun.com. Kim underwent surgery on his thigh last December and needed at least four months to recover, per ohmynews.com, but he is nearing the end of the process. The 39-year-old's OPS fell nearly 200 points last year from the year before, but whenever he is deemed ready to play, he will at least give manager Matt Williams another trusted hitter on the roster.
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.
Joo Hwan Na – Tigers – 10-Day IL – Thigh
June 2 - Tigers manager Matt Williams said Tuesday that Na has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to "slight pain" in his left thigh, Sang Kyung Park of The Chosun Ilbo reports. The Tigers recalled catcher Jung Hoon Lee up from the Futures League to take Na's spot on the active roster. Na, who is batting .200 over 43 plate appearances, had mostly served as a reserve infielder for the Tigers this season.
Kia Tigers Expected Lineup
SP - Ki Young Im
1. Ho Ryung Kim
2. Sun Bin Kim
5. Ji Wan Na
6. Dae In Hwang
9. Chan Ho Park
Doosan Bears Expected Lineup
SP - Hui Kwan Yu
1. Kun Woo Park
3. Jae Il Oh
4. Jae Hwan Kim
6. Jae Ho Kim
7. Se Hyuk Park
8. Ji Hyuk Ryu
9. Soo Bin Jung
Top picks
Jose Fernandez, Bears: Fernandez is an early front-runner for MVP this season as he has done nothing but mash all year. He enters this contest on a 10-game hitting streak and has hit .381 with a .435 on-base percentage this year against the Tigers.
Jae Il Oh, Bears: Oh has hit safely in six of his last seven games, making it clear the side injury that sidelined him for a week in late May is now in the past. The first baseman has been quite productive, recording three home runs, 17 RBI, a .345 average and a .950 OPS through 22 games.
Sun Bin Kim, Tigers: Kim only has three hits in 17 at-bats against the Bears this season, which translates to a .176 average and a meager .222 on-base percentage. His full-season stats matter more than that limited sample, though, and his .354/.453/.424 slash line over the course of the season is quite strong.
Jae Ho Kim, Bears: Kim has been at his best when facing the Tigers this season, making him an interesting play in this matchup. He is hitting .500 against Kia, posting seven hits and three RBI in 14 at-bats.
Captaincy Options
Dream11 Team
P – Hui Kwan Yu
C – Sang Ho Chung
IF – Sun Bin Kim
IF – Jose Fernandez (C)
IF – Jae Il Oh (VC)
IF – Jae Ho Kim
IF – Ji Hyuk Ryu
OF – Ho Ryung Kim
OF – Hyung Woo Choi
