This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
LG Twins (15-6) vs Kia Tigers (11-11)
Saturday, May 30, 1:00 AM EDT
Projected starters
RHP Chan Gyu Lim (2-0, 4.50 ERA) vs RHP Min Woo Lee (2-0, 3.80 ERA)
Game Preview
The Twins remain one of the hottest teams in the KBO this season, extending their winning streak to five games with Friday's 6-2 win over the Tigers. Kia, on the other hand, keep falling down the standings and are now playing .500 ball following a run of three straight defeats. The Twins will look to continue their top form Saturday and will send Chan Gyu Lim to the mound. The 27-year-old righty has been decent in his first three starts of the season, recording a 4.50 ERA. The Tigers will counter with Min Woo Lee, who has been one of their better arms to begin the year. The 27-year-old hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any of his last three outings, so he should be a tough test for a red-hot Twins lineup.
Injuries
Sun Bin Kim – Tigers – Day-To-Day – Elbow
May 29 - Kim is not starting Friday's game versus the Twins, according to the Tigers' official Twitter account. Kim has been dealing with pain in his right elbow, so KIA is probably implementing some caution with their star second baseman. Tigers rookie Gyu Seong Kim will start ahead of the 30-year-old veteran.
Ho Ryung Kim – Tigers – Out – Back
May 26 - Kim, who has been sidelined all season
LG Twins (15-6) vs Kia Tigers (11-11)
Saturday, May 30, 1:00 AM EDT
Projected starters
RHP Chan Gyu Lim (2-0, 4.50 ERA) vs RHP Min Woo Lee (2-0, 3.80 ERA)
Game Preview
The Twins remain one of the hottest teams in the KBO this season, extending their winning streak to five games with Friday's 6-2 win over the Tigers. Kia, on the other hand, keep falling down the standings and are now playing .500 ball following a run of three straight defeats. The Twins will look to continue their top form Saturday and will send Chan Gyu Lim to the mound. The 27-year-old righty has been decent in his first three starts of the season, recording a 4.50 ERA. The Tigers will counter with Min Woo Lee, who has been one of their better arms to begin the year. The 27-year-old hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any of his last three outings, so he should be a tough test for a red-hot Twins lineup.
Injuries
Sun Bin Kim – Tigers – Day-To-Day – Elbow
May 29 - Kim is not starting Friday's game versus the Twins, according to the Tigers' official Twitter account. Kim has been dealing with pain in his right elbow, so KIA is probably implementing some caution with their star second baseman. Tigers rookie Gyu Seong Kim will start ahead of the 30-year-old veteran.
Ho Ryung Kim – Tigers – Out – Back
May 26 - Kim, who has been sidelined all season with a back injury, played five innings Tuesday in a game with the Tigers' Futures League affiliate, Jin-Hee Kim of The Chosun Ilbo reports. The 28-year-old outfielder looks to be healthy again and appears ready for his first KBO action since the 2017 season, when he appeared in 98 games for the Tigers and slashed .267/.347/.389 over 105 plate appearances. All three of Kia's everyday outfielders are currently healthy, so it may take an injury before the Tigers choose to move Kim up to the active roster.
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.
Woo Seok Ko – Twins – 10-Day IL – Knee
May 18 - The Twins announced Sunday that Ko underwent arthroscopic surgery to address meniscus and MCL damage in his left knee, Jae-hyung Roh of The Chosun Ilbo reports. He's expected to be sidelined for at least three months while rehabbing from the procedure. After recording a save in one of his two appearances this season, Ko reported the knee injury to the club Thursday before he was sent in for further evaluation. The Twins' medical staff quickly determined that Ko would require a scope to address the knee issue, rendering him unavailable through at least early August. With Ko out of the mix, manager Joong-il Ryu indicated that Sang Gyu Lee will be the Twins' primary closer, while Woo Young Jung is the next man up behind Lee.
Hyung Jong Lee – Twins – Out – Wrist
May 10 - 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.
LG Twins Expected Lineup:
SP – Chan Gyu Lim
2. Hyun Soo Kim
8. Kang Nam Yoo
9. Ji Hwan Oh
Kia Tigers Expected Lineup:
SP – Min Woo Lee
1. Chan Ho Park
2. Sun Bin Kim
5. Ji Wan Na
6. Min Sang Yoo
7. Joo Hwan Na
Top picks:
Roberto Ramos, Twins: Ramos keeps mashing and it seems no team can slow him down. After a 3-for-4 performance Friday, the slugging first baseman has now homered in four of his last five games, compiling nine RBI over that span. He's hit safely in five straight contests, posting a robust .400 average during that stretch.
Hyun Soo Kim, Twins: Kim pushed his hitting streak to seven games with another strong effort Friday and also added a walk, meaning he's reached base at least twice in each contest during that ongoing hitting streak. Kim has posted a .519/.606/.704 slash line with five multi-hit games over that stretch.
Ji Wan Na, Tigers: Preston Tucker might be a popular play based on his power numbers and track record, but he's been in a bit of a slump. Na, on the other hand, has struggled a bit with consistency but has posted a .333/.432/.556 slash line during his last 10 games.
Chan Gyu Lim, Twins: Lim has tossed at least six innings while striking out at least six in each of his first three starts of the season. That should be enough reason to give him the nod here, as the Tigers offense has been anything but consistent over the last few weeks.
Captaincy Options:
2. Hyun Soo Kim
3. Ji Wan Na
Dream11 Team
P – Chan Gyu Lim
C – Kang Nam Yoo
IF – Roberto Ramos (C)
IF – Min Seong Kim
IF – Sun Bin Kim
OF – Ji Wan Na
OF – Hyung Woo Choi
OF – Eun Seong Chae
OF – Hyun Soo Kim (VC)
