This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
Kia Tigers (27-21) at NC Dinos (34-16)
Saturday, July 4th, 5:00 AM EDT
Projected starters
LHP Hyun Jong Yang (5-4, 4.67 ERA) vs Drew Rucinski (6-1, 2.38 ERA)
Game Preview
The Dinos remain the best side in the KBO and it's not even close – they sit 18 games above the .500 threshold and no team can match their mix of stellar pitching and dangerous offense. The Tigers have dealt with inconsistencies most of the season, but they remain a team to watch and are in fourth place with a 27-21 record. Kia, however, enter this game in a three-game winning streak after taking the series opener Friday. The Dinos will send Drew Rucinski to even things up, and he has been outstanding this season with a 2.38 ERA while registering nine quality starts in 10 outings. The Tigers will counter with Hyun Jong Yang, who has posted a decent 4.67 ERA while delivering six quality starts in 10 appearances in 2020.
Injuries:
Kia Tigers
Young Seok Jang - Out - Not Injury Related
6/8 10:29 PM IST - Jang was removed from KIA's first-team roster Monday, Ik-rae Choi of The Dong-A Ilbo reports. Jang was called up last week after spending several weeks with KIA's second team, but he is headed back down after going 1-for-11 (.091) last week. Recently-acquired Ji Hyuk Ryu is expected to take over as KIA's starting third baseman.
Joo Chan Kim - 10-Day IL - Undisclosed
6/22 11:52 PM IST - Kim was
Kia Tigers (27-21) at NC Dinos (34-16)
Saturday, July 4th, 5:00 AM EDT
Projected starters
LHP Hyun Jong Yang (5-4, 4.67 ERA) vs Drew Rucinski (6-1, 2.38 ERA)
Game Preview
The Dinos remain the best side in the KBO and it's not even close – they sit 18 games above the .500 threshold and no team can match their mix of stellar pitching and dangerous offense. The Tigers have dealt with inconsistencies most of the season, but they remain a team to watch and are in fourth place with a 27-21 record. Kia, however, enter this game in a three-game winning streak after taking the series opener Friday. The Dinos will send Drew Rucinski to even things up, and he has been outstanding this season with a 2.38 ERA while registering nine quality starts in 10 outings. The Tigers will counter with Hyun Jong Yang, who has posted a decent 4.67 ERA while delivering six quality starts in 10 appearances in 2020.
Injuries:
Kia Tigers
Young Seok Jang - Out - Not Injury Related
6/8 10:29 PM IST - Jang was removed from KIA's first-team roster Monday, Ik-rae Choi of The Dong-A Ilbo reports. Jang was called up last week after spending several weeks with KIA's second team, but he is headed back down after going 1-for-11 (.091) last week. Recently-acquired Ji Hyuk Ryu is expected to take over as KIA's starting third baseman.
Joo Chan Kim - 10-Day IL - Undisclosed
6/22 11:52 PM IST - Kim was removed from the Tigers' roster on Monday, Soo Jin Park of Star News reports. It's not clear if Kim was placed on the injured list or sent to the Futures League, as he went 6-for-18 (.333) after making his season debut June 7 but received just five at-bats over the last five games. One way or another, though, the 39-year-old will not be active heading into the latest week of KBO action.
Chang Jin Lee - Out - Back
5/26 9:27 PM IST - 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 - Out - Hamstring
6/19 2:09 AM IST - 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.
NC Dinos
Joon Wan Kim - 10-Day IL - Side
6/1 10:41 PM IST - Kim felt soreness in his right side last week, according to OSEN, and was placed on the injured list. It's not clear how long Kim will be sidelined, but the Dinos' reserve outfielder has not played since May 28 and will apparently miss more time. Sung Wook Kim was added to the roster in Joon Wan Kim's place.
Min Woo Park - 10-Day IL - Hamstring
7/1 2:09 PM IST - Kim landed on the injured list Wednesday due to pain in his right hamstring, Ik-Rae Choi of The Dong-a Ilbo reports. The 27-year-old suffered the injury on a slide to second base during the third inning of Tuesday's game. It is reportedly not too severe, but he will require monitoring for the time being. NC called up Suk Hoon Ji as Park's roster replacement Wednesday.
Kia Tigers expected lineup:
SP - Hyun Jong Yang
1. Sun Bin Kim
4. Ji Wan Na
5. Min Sang Yoo
6. Ho Ryung Kim
7. Joo Hwan Na
9. Chan Ho Park
NC Dinos expected lineup:
SP - Drew Rucinski
1. Myung Gi Lee
3. Sung Bum Na
4. Eui Ji Yang
6. Suk Min Park
7. Jin Hyuk No
9. Tae Jin Kim
Top picks:
Sung Bum Na, Dinos: Na has been one of the top run producers in the KBO, but he's more than just a situational hitter – he has 45 RBI but has also added 14 home runs and a strong .303 average. He is a good bet to create havoc and prevent the Dinos to engage in a losing streak.
Aaron Altherr, Dinos: Altherr was one of the league's best hitters in June, but he has been a well-rounded threat in the Dinos lineup all season long. The former MLB outfielder has 14 home runs and 48 RBI, but he has also added 35 runs scored, 10 stolen bases and a .308 average. He has posted four multi-hit games in his last five appearances.
Sun Bin Kim, Tigers: Kim has been one of the most consistent hitters in the league and his .366 average ranks fourth in the league among hitters with at least 150 plate appearances. He does more than just hit, though – he has also added 18 RBI and 20 runs scored, although he's yet to go yard in 2020.
Drew Rucinski, Dinos: Rucinski looks like the best pitching alternative in this matchup and is a good bet to silence a Tigers lineup that has won three games in a row. He's almost a sure-fire bet to post a quality start, as he has done that in nine of his 10 games in 2020 so far.
Captaincy Options:
Dream11 Team
P – Drew Rucinski
C – Eui Ji Yang
IF – Joo Hwan Na
IF – Tae Jin Kim
IF – Sun Bin Kim
OF – Aaron Altherr (VC)
OF – Sung Bum Na (C)
OF – Jin Sung Kang
OF – Ho Ryung Kim
Disclaimer: The views expressed here are of the author and is not a reflection of the actual points you might earn.
