This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
Doosan Bears (36-26) at Kia Tigers (33-27)
Saturday, July 18th, 5:00 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Won Joon Choi (2-0, 4.76 ERA) vs LHP Ki Hoon Kim (0-0, 4.35 ERA)
Game Preview
Two of the best teams in the league will collide Saturday, as both the Bears and the Tigers are looking to put pressure on the NC Dinos, the consensus best team in the KBO this season. Something that should be very intriguing in the pitching matchup, though, as neither of the hurlers to be involved in this game has plenty of experience in this role – at least this year. Won Joon Choi will get the nod for the Bears despite the fact he has pitched in relief for most of the season, and he is set to make his second start of the campaign Saturday. He fared well in his first start June 12, tossing five scoreless innings and picking up a win over the Eagles. He will go against a lefty in Ki Hoon Kim, who spent the last month pitching out of the Tigers' bullpen, but he will get a chance to start Saturday with fellow starter Ki Young Im getting extra rest before his next start. He made 16 starts last season for the Tigers, so he has experience in that role despite being a reliever this year.
Injuries
Bears
Chris Flexen - Out - Foot
7/17 8:54 PM IST - Flexen suffered a broken left foot in his last start Thursday, according
Doosan Bears (36-26) at Kia Tigers (33-27)
Saturday, July 18th, 5:00 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Won Joon Choi (2-0, 4.76 ERA) vs LHP Ki Hoon Kim (0-0, 4.35 ERA)
Game Preview
Two of the best teams in the league will collide Saturday, as both the Bears and the Tigers are looking to put pressure on the NC Dinos, the consensus best team in the KBO this season. Something that should be very intriguing in the pitching matchup, though, as neither of the hurlers to be involved in this game has plenty of experience in this role – at least this year. Won Joon Choi will get the nod for the Bears despite the fact he has pitched in relief for most of the season, and he is set to make his second start of the campaign Saturday. He fared well in his first start June 12, tossing five scoreless innings and picking up a win over the Eagles. He will go against a lefty in Ki Hoon Kim, who spent the last month pitching out of the Tigers' bullpen, but he will get a chance to start Saturday with fellow starter Ki Young Im getting extra rest before his next start. He made 16 starts last season for the Tigers, so he has experience in that role despite being a reliever this year.
Injuries
Bears
Chris Flexen - Out - Foot
7/17 8:54 PM IST - Flexen suffered a broken left foot in his last start Thursday, according to chosun.com. Flexen was struck by a batted ball in the first inning of Thursday's contest, and although he finished the frame, he was removed from the contest afterward and will now likely miss at least a month.
Jae Ho Kim - 10-Day IL - Shoulder
7/16 3:08 PM IST - Kim was placed on the injured list Thursday due to pain in his left shoulder, In Ha Kwon of The Chosun Ilbo reports. The Bears demoted their starting shortstop and promoted outfielder Dong Hoon Baek before Thursday's game. The 35-year-old lands back on the injured list after returning during early July from a similar shoulder injury. Jae Won Oh is likely to start in the infield until Kim's re-evaluation next Tuesday.
Yong Chan Lee - Out - Elbow
6/4 2:49 PM IST - Lee will undergo Tommy John surgery and is expected to miss at least a year, Daniel Kim of DKTV reports. Lee has started regularly for Doosan since 2018, but his 2020 season will come to an early and abrupt end as a result of his elbow injury. It remains to be seen who will enter the rotation in Lee's place, as the Giants have only needed five starting pitchers to date.
Myung Joon Yoon - Out - Not Injury Related
7/17 3:11 PM IST - Yoon was removed from Doosan's roster Friday, Su Jin Park of Star News reports. The sixth-year pitcher will receive some time to recharge after surrendering five runs through his last 6.1 innings. Because of this recent drop in form, Yoon now has a 5.04 ERA over 26 games.
Tigers
Ki Young Im - 10-Day IL - Shoulder
7/14 11:26 PM IST - Im was placed on the injured list Tuesday with mild inflammation in his right shoulder, according to chosun.com. Im's injury does not sound serious, but with him not scheduled to start for at least a few more days, the Tigers decided to free up his roster spot. Im could still take the ball next time his spot in the rotation comes up, but it seems likely he will be skipped until the next time through.
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.
Sun Bin Kim - 10-Day IL - Thigh
7/6 11:14 AM IST - Kim is expected to miss 2-to-3 weeks after he was diagnosed Monday with a left thigh strain and bruised right ankle, Su-jin Park of Star News reports. Kim was removed from Sunday's loss to the Dinos after he was injured while running the bases. His absence until at least late July is a tough break for the Tigers, as the second baseman was leading the KBO with a .378 batting average. Kim had previously missed time in June with a left quadriceps injury, so it wouldn't be a surprise if the Tigers view the three-week timeline as a more realistic date for his return now that he's dealing with two more lower-body issues.
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.
Kyung Chan Moon - 10-Day IL - Elbow
7/7 3:02 PM IST - Moon was placed on the injured list with elbow pain Tuesday, according to chosun.com. Kia manager Matt Williams clarified it as a minor injury and that he moved the 27-year-old to the IL to give him more rest. The right-hander has recently struggled, allowing nine earned runs over his last two innings. Sang Hyun Jeon will take over as closer until Moon fully heals.
Ji Hyuk Ryu - Out - Hamstring
7/6 4:44 PM IST - Ryu (hamstring) will be re-evaluated in 2-to-3 weeks to determine a clearer timetable for his return, Su Jin Park of Star News reports. Kia will have the 26-year-old rehab and start physical training after an MRI revealed positive progress involving his injury. The team will likely look at the end of July or beginning of August for a potential return date. Ryu was traded to the Tigers from Doosan in June, playing just five games before getting injured.
Bears Expected Lineup
SP - Won Joon Choi
1. Kun Woo Park
3. Jae Il Oh
4. Jae Hwan Kim
7. Jae Won Oh
8. Se Hyuk Park
9. Soo Bin Jung
Tigers Expected Lineup
SP - Ki Hoon Kim
4. Ji Wan Na
5. Min Sang Yoo
6. Joo Hwan Na
7. Chan Ho Park
Top Picks
Jose Fernandez, Bears: Fernandez has gone 2-for-4 in three straight contests, and he continues to produce regardless of the opposition. The slugging first baseman is hitting .351 with four home runs and nine RBI in 57 July at-bats.
Se Hyuk Park, Bears: Park has five RBI in his last three games, but he has looked at his best when facing the Tigers this season. The backstop owns a .500 average with a .524 on-base percentage in 20 at-bats against Kia, producing eight RBI as well.
Preston Tucker, Tigers: Tucker has hit .370 with a .414 on-base percentage, while tallying two home runs and 12 RBI, in 27 at-bats against the Bears in 2020. That's enough reason to select the slugging outfielder for a prominent role in this match.
Ji Wan Na, Tigers: Na has done a good job against the Bears in 2020, hitting .320 with a .414 on-base percentage against them in 25 at-bats. He is also coming off a 3-for-4 performance Friday and has hit for a solid .288 with 15 RBI in 59 July at-bats.
Captaincy Options
Dream11 Team
P – Won Joon Choi
C – Se Hyuk Park (VC)
IF – Jose Fernandez (C)
IF – Jae Il Oh
IF – Gyu Seong Kim
OF – Preston Tucker
OF – Ji Wan Na
OF – Soo Bin Jung
OF – Kun Woo Park
