This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
Hanwha Eagles (28-71-1) at Samsung Lions (46-53-1)
Wednesday, September 9th, 2:00 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Min Woo Kim (4-8, 4.10 ERA) vs RHP David Buchanan (12-6, 3.70 ERA)
Game Preview
The Eagles and the Lions are practically out of the race for the 2020 KBO playoffs, and both franchises would be smart to think about what they will do in the 2021 season instead of trying to make a late run at a postseason berth that looks more and more unlikely as the season progresses. The pitching matchup leans heavily for the Lions, as David Buchanan is one of the league leaders in the win department with 12 victories. He will go up against Min Woo Kim, who has pitched well thanks to a 4.10 ERA – strong numbers considering how much the Eagles have struggled this year.
Injuries
Hanwha Eagles
Jae Hoon Choi - Day-To-Day - Finger
9/9 1:13 AM IST - Choi is dealing with a finger injury, according to chosun.com. Choi did not start the last two games as a result of his injury. He was able to pinch hit in Tuesday's contest, so he will at least have a chance to get behind the plate for one of the two games the Eagles will play against the Lions on Wednesday.
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
Hanwha Eagles (28-71-1) at Samsung Lions (46-53-1)
Wednesday, September 9th, 2:00 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Min Woo Kim (4-8, 4.10 ERA) vs RHP David Buchanan (12-6, 3.70 ERA)
Game Preview
The Eagles and the Lions are practically out of the race for the 2020 KBO playoffs, and both franchises would be smart to think about what they will do in the 2021 season instead of trying to make a late run at a postseason berth that looks more and more unlikely as the season progresses. The pitching matchup leans heavily for the Lions, as David Buchanan is one of the league leaders in the win department with 12 victories. He will go up against Min Woo Kim, who has pitched well thanks to a 4.10 ERA – strong numbers considering how much the Eagles have struggled this year.
Injuries
Hanwha Eagles
Jae Hoon Choi - Day-To-Day - Finger
9/9 1:13 AM IST - Choi is dealing with a finger injury, according to chosun.com. Choi did not start the last two games as a result of his injury. He was able to pinch hit in Tuesday's contest, so he will at least have a chance to get behind the plate for one of the two games the Eagles will play against the Lions on Wednesday.
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.
Bum Soo Kim - Out - Hip
8/17 10:10 PM IST - A target date for Kim (hip) to return to action has not been established, according to OSEN. Kim has not pitched this month as a result of his injury, and while the report seems to indicate he could return at some point, it remains to be seen if and when that will occur.
Tae Kyun Kim - Out - Elbow
8/16 2:47 PM IST - Kim was removed from the Eagles' first-group entry Sunday with left elbow inflammation, according to the Yonhap News Agency. Hanwha reportedly demoted the 38-year-old instead of placing him on the injured list. Tae Hyung No joined Hanwha's first team Sunday. Kim struggled by going hitless through his last 16 at-bats.
Yong Kyu Lee - Day-To-Day - Calf
9/9 1:11 AM IST - Lee is dealing with a sore calf, according to chosun.com. Even with an off day in between, Lee did not appear in either of the Eagles' last two games. He remains on the roster for now, but with him not 100 percent he could be held out of either or both games the Eagles will play Wednesday against the Lions.
Jung Rak Shin - Out - Illness
8/31 8:13 PM IST - Shin revealed Monday that he recently tested positive for COVID-19, Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News Agency reports. Shin becomes the first known KBO player to have tested positive for the coronavirus since the start of the season. The reliever has posted a 9.00 ERA and 1.83 WHP over 12 innings out of the Hanwha bullpen this season, but he hadn't appeared for the big club since June 27 after being assigned to the Futures League. Before he's cleared to pitch again in the minors, Shin will need to complete a mandatory quarantine process that will include multiple negative test results.
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
8/27 9:47 PM IST - Heo was removed from the Lions' roster Thursday, according to the team's official Twitter account. Heo was called up to start Wednesday's game, but he was not sharp, so the team decided to send him back down for the time being.
Dae Woo Kim - Out - Undisclosed
9/5 9:52 PM IST - Kim was removed from the Lions' roster Saturday, according to the team's official Twitter account. It's not clear why Kim was dropped from the roster, but he had not taken the mound since his last start, so it's possible he is dealing with some sort of injury.
Hak Ju Lee - Out - Not Injury Related
8/24 9:44 PM IST - Lee was removed from the Lions' roster Monday, according to OSEN. Lee rejoined Samsung's first team last week after spending time in the minors, but he went hitless in eight at-bats over three games, so the Lions sent him back down to continue working on his swing.
Sung Hwan Yoon - Out - Not Injury Related
8/21 10:58 PM IST - Yoon surrendered four runs on two hits and three walks through 1.2 innings in Friday's 8-6 loss to SK. He hit two batters. Yoon pitched his shortest game of 2020 by throwing 41 pitches and netting only five outs. A late Samsung lead prevented the loss, but he remains winless with a displeasing 1.61 WHIP and 5.3 BB/9 across five starts.
Samsung Lions Expected Lineup
SP - David Buchanan
1. Hae Min Park
2. Sang Su Kim
3. Ja Wook Koo
4. Daniel Palka
5. Won Seok Lee
6. Heon Gon Kim
7. Min Ho Kang
8. Ji Chan Kim
9. Sung Gyu Lee
Hanwha Eagles Expected Lineup
SP - Min Woo Kim
1. Yong Kyu Lee
3. Si Hwan Noh
5. Ju Seok Ha
Top Picks / Captaincy Options
- Ja Wook Koo – Lions
- David Buchanan – Lions
- Si Hwan Noh – Eagles
- Dong Yeop Kim – Lions
Dream11 Team
P – David Buchanan (VC)
C – Min Ho Kang
IF – Si Hwan Noh
IF – Kyung Hak Kang
OF – Ja Wook Koo (C)
OF – Dong Yeop Kim
OF – Hae Min Park
OF – Daniel Palka
OF – Brandon Barnes