This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
Kia Tigers (10-7) at SK Wyverns (2-14)
Sunday, May 24, 1:00 AM EDT
Projected starters
RHP Min Woo Lee (2-0, 4.86 ERA) vs RHP Ricardo Pinto (1-2, 6.32 ERA)
Game Preview
The Wyverns remain the weakest team in the KBO this season after losing three in a row to fall to 2-14. The Tigers, on the other hand, are one of the hottest teams in the competition. Their 8-3 win Saturday against the Wyverns pushed their winning streak to five games (the longest such run in the league) and their overall record to 10-7. The Tigers will send Min Woo Lee to the mound Sunday as they look to complete the sweep. He allowed two runs in six innings during his most recent start. The Wyverns will counter with Ricardo Pinto, who was roughed up for seven earned runs in just 4.1 innings of work in his last outing.
Injuries
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.
Tae In Chae – Wyverns – 10-Day IL – Ribs
May 12 -
Kia Tigers (10-7) at SK Wyverns (2-14)
Sunday, May 24, 1:00 AM EDT
Projected starters
RHP Min Woo Lee (2-0, 4.86 ERA) vs RHP Ricardo Pinto (1-2, 6.32 ERA)
Game Preview
The Wyverns remain the weakest team in the KBO this season after losing three in a row to fall to 2-14. The Tigers, on the other hand, are one of the hottest teams in the competition. Their 8-3 win Saturday against the Wyverns pushed their winning streak to five games (the longest such run in the league) and their overall record to 10-7. The Tigers will send Min Woo Lee to the mound Sunday as they look to complete the sweep. He allowed two runs in six innings during his most recent start. The Wyverns will counter with Ricardo Pinto, who was roughed up for seven earned runs in just 4.1 innings of work in his last outing.
Injuries
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.
Tae In Chae – Wyverns – 10-Day IL – Ribs
May 12 - Chae will be out six weeks with a right intercostal injury, KBO analyst Jin-Hyeok Jang reports. Chae has not played frequently for SK this season, but the club will be a bit thin at first base until he recovers from his injury. They should be just fine in his absence, though, as fellow first baseman Jamie Romak has started every game at the position to date.
Nick Kingham – Wyverns – 10-Day IL – Elbow
May 21 - Kingham (elbow) is expected to miss at least two more starts, Jeeho Yoo of the Yonhap News Agency reports. The extent of Kingham's injury is uncertain, but it's looking like he will be sidelined at least until some point in June. The Wyverns have not yet announced who will take the ball next time Kingham's spot in the rotation comes up.
Jong Wook Ko – Wyverns – Out – Ankle
May 23 - Ko's recovery from his ankle injury will take longer than expected, and he is now expected to be sidelined until sometime in June, Tae Woo Kim of SPOTV News reports. Ko's original recovery timetable gave him a chance to get back on the field before May came to a close, but he will need a bit more time to get back to 100 percent.
Jae Won Lee – Wyverns – 10-Day IL – Thumb
May 7 - Lee exited Thursday's 8-4 loss to Hanwha with a fractured right thumb, Jeeho Yoo of the Yonhap News Agency reports. SK Wyverns has yet to announce a timeline for Lee's return. Lee was hitless in his first two at-bats before he sustained the injury when he was hit by a pitch in his third plate appearance of the day. SK Wyverns will presumably send Lee in for more tests to determine whether surgery is necessary, but even if he avoids a procedure, he appears likely to miss time on account of the injury. Lee's expected absence further thins a weak KBO catcher pool in which the 32-year-old stood out as one of the top fantasy options coming off a 12-homer, 75-RBI 2019 season. Hyun-seok Lee replaced Jae-won in Thursday's game and would presumably be in store for regular work behind the dish while the latter is sidelined.
Kia Tigers Expected Lineup:
SP - Min Woo Lee
1. Chan Ho Park
2. Sun Bin Kim
4. Ji Wan Na
6. Dae In Hwang
8. Joo Hwan Na
SK Wyverns Expected Lineup:
SP - Ricardo Pinto
2. Joon Hyuk Oh
3. Jamie Romak
4. Dong Min Han
5. Jeong Choi
8. Hong Gu Lee
Top picks:
Sun Bin Kim, Tigers: Kim is coming off a 2-for-4 game Saturday which extended his hitting streak to five contests. He remains an absolute on-base machine, as evidenced by his .434 OBP through his first 76 plate appearances. He's also driven in six runs in his last six games.
Preston Tucker, Tigers: Tucker has gone hitless in his last two games, a sharp downturn after his excellent first 15 games of the season. Even after two poor showings, he owns a .310 average through his last 10 games and is among the league leaders in most offensive stats.
Jamie Romak, Wyverns: Romak has been a solid offensive presence for the Wyverns and, after a 2-for-3 outing on Saturday, is now riding a four-game hitting streak. He has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games, hitting .342 with a .917 OPS during that stretch.
Min Woo Lee, Tigers: Lee tossed his lone quality start in his previous outing, and he should be in line for another strong performance in this contest. The Wyverns currently own one of the league's worst offenses with a collective average of just .237.
Captaincy Options:
1. Sun Bin Kim
3. Jamie Romak
Dream11 Team
P – Min Woo Lee
C – Hong Gu Lee
IF – Jamie Romak
IF – Chang Pyung Kim
IF – Sun Bin Kim (C)
IF – Hyun Jeong
IF – Chan Ho Park
OF – Preston Tucker (VC)
OF – Hyoung Woo Choi
