This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
Hanwha Eagles (21-60-1) at Samsung Lions (40-42-1)
Sunday, August 16th, 4:00 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Tae In Won (6-3, 3.82 ERA) vs RHP Warwick Saupold (5-9, 5-12 ERA)
Game Preview
The Lions have a slim chance to make the playoffs unless they have a dramatic turnaround in the final weeks of the regular season, and facing the Eagles might be exactly what they need. Hanwha are sitting dead last in the standings with just 21 wins out of 82 games, and they're already planning for what they're going to do in the 2021 KBO season. The pitching matchup favors the Lions, as Tae In Won will get the nod for Samsung and Warwick Saupold will make the start for Hanwha in a duel of righties. Won didn't have a good performance when he faced the Eagles the last time out, but he has a strong 3.82 ERA this season, so the consistency is there. As for Saupold, he has allowed three or more earned runs in each of his last eight starts. He owns a 7.42 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP with 1.2 HR/9 in 43.2 innings during that stretch.
Injuries
Hanwha Eagles
Brandon Barnes - 10-Day IL - Hamstring
8/15 3:04 PM IST - Barnes was placed on the injured list Saturday with pain in his right hamstring, Sang Hak Lee of The Chosun Ilbo reports. The outfielder will go on the IL after sitting out back-to-back games for Hanwha. Jong Chan Lim is likely to cover right
Hanwha Eagles (21-60-1) at Samsung Lions (40-42-1)
Sunday, August 16th, 4:00 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Tae In Won (6-3, 3.82 ERA) vs RHP Warwick Saupold (5-9, 5-12 ERA)
Game Preview
The Lions have a slim chance to make the playoffs unless they have a dramatic turnaround in the final weeks of the regular season, and facing the Eagles might be exactly what they need. Hanwha are sitting dead last in the standings with just 21 wins out of 82 games, and they're already planning for what they're going to do in the 2021 KBO season. The pitching matchup favors the Lions, as Tae In Won will get the nod for Samsung and Warwick Saupold will make the start for Hanwha in a duel of righties. Won didn't have a good performance when he faced the Eagles the last time out, but he has a strong 3.82 ERA this season, so the consistency is there. As for Saupold, he has allowed three or more earned runs in each of his last eight starts. He owns a 7.42 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP with 1.2 HR/9 in 43.2 innings during that stretch.
Injuries
Hanwha Eagles
Brandon Barnes - 10-Day IL - Hamstring
8/15 3:04 PM IST - Barnes was placed on the injured list Saturday with pain in his right hamstring, Sang Hak Lee of The Chosun Ilbo reports. The outfielder will go on the IL after sitting out back-to-back games for Hanwha. Jong Chan Lim is likely to cover right field while Barnes recuperates from his hamstring injury.
Eun Won Jung - Out - Wrist
8/15 2:49 PM IST - Jung will miss 4-to-6 weeks with a dislocated left wrist, Sang Hak Lee of The Chosun Ilbo reports. The injury came when he was hit by a David Buchanan pitch on Friday. It could mean Jung misses the rest of the season, putting another damper on Hanwha's horrific year. Jung his hitting .248 across 254 at-bats.
Jin Ho Jung - Out - Knee
7/13 10:21 PM IST - Jung was removed from Hanwha's roster Monday due to a left knee injury, according to chosun.com. Jung was having a good month of July, going 10-for-25 (.400) over 10 games, but he will now miss some time as a result of his injury. It remains to be seen when he will be ready to rejoin the Eagles' roster.
Bum Soo Kim - Out - Hip
7/30 10:03 PM IST - Kim was removed from the Eagles' roster Thursday due to a hip injury, according to OSEN. It's not yet clear how long Kim will be sidelined, but he has a history of hip issues, so it's possible he could miss some time. Kim is scheduled to meet with a specialist Monday, and a timeline for his recovery should be determined after that.
Ee Whan Kim - Out - Not Injury Related
6/8 12:54 PM IST - Kim was removed from Hanwha's first-team entry Monday, Young Eun Bae of Daily Sports Backstroke reports. The 19-year-old Kim got off to a good start this season, but he did not make it out of the fourth inning in each of his last four outings, so he will pitch for Hanwha's second team for the time being.
Seong Yul Lee - Out - Not Injury Related
7/4 11:50 PM IST - Lee was removed from the Eagles roster Friday, according to koreadaily.com. Lee has not been able to get it going at the plate this season, so he will try to find his swing in the Futures League for the second time in the last few weeks.
Sang Won Park - Out - Not Injury Related
7/28 3:01 PM IST - Park was removed from the Hanwha first team Tuesday, Su Jin Park of Star News reports. The Eagles added Ho Sol Yoon to the bullpen before Tuesday's game against Samsung. Park has struggled for Hanwha in 2020, posting a 5.64 ERA over 30.1 innings through 32 games.
Samsung Lions
Jung Hyun Baek - Out - Elbow
7/23 1:53 AM IST - Samsung removed Baek from its active roster Wednesday due to a left elbow sprain, Hyun-Seok Jeong of The Chosun Ilbo reports. The southpaw picked up the injury coming out of his start Tuesday, during which he surrendered five runs on nine hits over 5.1 innings. Seong Hwan Yoon is expected to assume Baek's spot in the rotation.
Young Jin Choi - Out - Ankle
7/28 2:51 AM IST - Choi will miss about six weeks with an ankle injury, according to chosun.com. Choi was diagnosed with ligament damage after leaving Sunday's game with the injury, and he is now facing an extended absence. Choi has been one of the Lions' top hitters against lefties this season, but the team will need to turn elsewhere against southpaws until he is ready to return.
Yoon Dong Heo - Out - Not Injury Related
7/17 8:44 PM IST - Heo was removed from the Lions' roster on Friday, according to the team's official Twitter account. Heo started for the Lions for nearly the past two months, but with Ben Lively returning to action he will be bumped from the rotation -- and the roster altogether. The 19-year-old Heo held his own at the top level, so he should garner consideration next time the Lions need to add a starter to the roster.
Sang Su Kim - 10-Day IL - Leg
8/3 10:13 PM IST - Kim was placed on the injured list Monday with a left leg injury, according to hankyung.com. Kim was slowed by the injury last week and apparently was not showing the progress the team hoped, so the Lions decided to give him extra time to heal and free up his roster spot. Ji Chan Kim is in line to serve as Samsung's top second baseman until Kim returns.
Hak Ju Lee - Out - Not Injury Related
8/3 10:15 PM IST - Lee was removed from the Lions' roster Monday, according to hankyung.com. Lee has been stuck in an extended slump at the plate, so the Lions sent him to the minors to give him a chance to iron things out. Chances are he will rejoin Samsung's first team after spending the minimum 10 days in the Futures League.
Seong Ho Noh - Out - Elbow
8/2 11:57 PM IST - Noh was removed from the Lions' roster Sunday due to a sore elbow, according to chosun.com. It's not clear how long Noh will be sidelined, but he will miss at least a few games. He has been one of Samsung's most effective relievers this season, posting a 2.66 ERA over 25 appearances.
Daniel Palka - Out - Not Injury Related
8/5 11:39 PM IST - Palka arrived in South Korea on Wednesday and will complete a two-week quarantine period before joining the Lions for workouts. Due to the timing of Palka's arrival in addition to the training time he'll require once the quarantine period ends, Daniel Kim of DKTV relays that the American-born player is unlikely to make his KBO debut until at least Aug. 25 versus the Twins. Once added to the roster, Palka is likely to serve as an everyday outfielder or designated hitter for the Lions.
Chan Do Park - Out - Elbow
8/3 12:14 AM IST - Park was removed from the Lions' roster Sunday due to a sore left elbow, according to chosun.com. It's not clear how long Park will be sidelined, but he will miss at least several games. Park has been a part-time player of late, so his absence should not have a notable effect on Samsung's lineup.
Hanwha Eagles Expected Lineup
SP - Warwick Saupold
1. Yong Kyu Lee
3. Ju Seok Ha
4. Tae Kyun Kim
9. Si Hwan Noh
Samsung Lions Expected Lineup
SP - Tae In Won
1. Hae Min Park
2. Heon Gon Kim
3. Ja Wook Koo
4. Won Seok Lee
6. Min Ho Kang
8. Ji Chan Kim
Top Picks From Each Team
Hae Min Park, Lions: Park might have gone 0-for-4 in Saturday's contest against the Eagles, but that ended a five-game hitting streak that included four straight multi-hit performances. Park has been seeing the ball well of late, and he has slashed .340/.392/.447 in 47 at-bats during August.
Tae Kyun Kim, Eagles: Kim has gone hitless in his last five games, but he has enough of a track record to be considered as a strong candidate for a bounce-back performance. He has hit for .333 with a .481 on-base percentage against the Lions this season so, if he's going to bounce back against one opponent, that's Samsung.
Captaincy Options
Dream11 Team
P – Tae In Won
C – Min Ho Kang
IF – Tae Kyun Kim
IF – Ju Seok Ha
IF – Ho Jae Kim
OF – Hae Min Park (C)
OF – Dong Yeop Kim (VC)
OF – Ja Wook Koo
OF – Jin Haeng Choi
