This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
Kiwoom Heroes (38-28) at Doosan Bears (38-26)
Tuesday, July 21, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected starters
LHP Eric Jokisch (9-2, 1.62 ERA) vs RHP Raul Alcantara (9-1, 3.13 ERA)
Game Preview
The Heroes and the Bears are two of the best teams in the KBO in 2020, and their records do justice to what they have done thus far. The Bears have a one-game lead over the Heroes in the standings, however, as they have the same number of wins having played two fewer contests. Doosan also have the edge in recent form, as they have gone 6-4 in their last 10 as opposed to Kiwoom's 4-6 mark during that same stretch. Undoubtedly, the pitching matchup stands out since two of the best hurlers in the KBO this season – Eric Jokisch for the Heroes and Raul Alcantara for the Bears – will go head-to-head. Jokisch has one of the best ERAs in the league at 1.62, while Alcantara isn't too far behind with a 3.13 mark. Both have won a league-leading nine starts as well, so they have proven able to carry their respective teams to victory when the need arises. Whoever pitches best will give his team a better chance of earning the win, but comes into the game with a 4-2 record and a 1.72 ERA in his last seven starts, while Alcantara has gone 4-0 with a 2.05 ERA in that same stretch.
Injuries:
Doosan Bears
Chris Flexen - Out - Foot
7/17 8:54 PM IST -
Kiwoom Heroes (38-28) at Doosan Bears (38-26)
Tuesday, July 21, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected starters
LHP Eric Jokisch (9-2, 1.62 ERA) vs RHP Raul Alcantara (9-1, 3.13 ERA)
Game Preview
The Heroes and the Bears are two of the best teams in the KBO in 2020, and their records do justice to what they have done thus far. The Bears have a one-game lead over the Heroes in the standings, however, as they have the same number of wins having played two fewer contests. Doosan also have the edge in recent form, as they have gone 6-4 in their last 10 as opposed to Kiwoom's 4-6 mark during that same stretch. Undoubtedly, the pitching matchup stands out since two of the best hurlers in the KBO this season – Eric Jokisch for the Heroes and Raul Alcantara for the Bears – will go head-to-head. Jokisch has one of the best ERAs in the league at 1.62, while Alcantara isn't too far behind with a 3.13 mark. Both have won a league-leading nine starts as well, so they have proven able to carry their respective teams to victory when the need arises. Whoever pitches best will give his team a better chance of earning the win, but comes into the game with a 4-2 record and a 1.72 ERA in his last seven starts, while Alcantara has gone 4-0 with a 2.05 ERA in that same stretch.
Injuries:
Doosan 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.
Kiwoom Heroes
Won Tae Choi - Out - Not Injury Related
7/11 11:06 PM IST - Choi was removed from the Heroes' roster Saturday, according to Soo Jin Park of Star News. Choi posted a 3.68 ERA over his first 10 starts of the season, but he allowed 11 earned runs in a combined eight innings (12.38 ERA) over his last two outings, so manager Heuk Son decided he could use a break. Sung Hyun Moon is expected to take Choi's spot in the rotation next week, and then Choi will reclaim his place the next time through.
Sang Su Kim - Out - Thigh
7/17 8:16 PM IST - Kim was removed from Friday's game against the Wyverns with a right adductor injury, Soo Jin Park of Star News reports. The severity of the injury remains unclear, and Kim will be further evaluated Saturday. The right-hander figures to be unavailable for at least a couple days.
Woong Bin Kim - 10-Day IL - Hamstring
6/8 9:38 PM IST - Kim will miss 4-to-6 weeks with a left hamstring injury, Soo Jin Park of Star News reports. Kim missed the start of the season while recovering from a forearm injury, and he is now looking at another absence after injuring his leg Sunday.
Byung Wook Lim - 10-Day IL - Hamstring
5/17 10:12 AM IST - Lim (hamstring) is expected to be sidelined 6-to-8 weeks, Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News reports. The 24-year-old went down during the second game of Saturday's doubleheader with a right hamstring injury, and he may end up spending two months on the injured list. Lim had a .278/.366/.389 slash line with four doubles and three stolen bases through 11 games.
Dong Won Park - Out - Abdomen
7/16 3:31 PM IST - Park was removed from Kiwoom's roster Thursday due to an abdominal injury, Soo Min Sun of The Chosun Ilbo reports. Kiwoom manager Hyuk Son reported the 30-year-old will rest at least three days, making his earliest return date Sunday. Ji Young Lee is catching Thursday and figures to take over the starting catcher role until Park returns fully healthy.
Addison Russell - Out - Not Injury Related
7/6 4:46 PM IST - Russell is scheduled to arrive in South Korea on Wednesday, Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News Agency reports. Once he arrives in the country, the 26-year-old will immediately be tested for COVID-19 and then quarantine for 14 days. Russell will be able to take batting practice at a house in South Korea while he's in self-isolation, but since he hasn't trained in a team structure since last September while he was still with MLB's Chicago Cubs, he'll need to play at least a few Futures League games before making his debut for the Heroes, who signed him June 19. Per Yoo, manager Son Hyuk said he expects Russell to be an option at both second base and shortstop once he's deemed ready to make his Kiwoom debut, likely in late July or early August.
Kiwoom Heroes Expected Lineup:
SP - Eric Jokisch
2. Ha Seong Kim
3. Jung Hoo Lee
6. Ji Young Lee
8. Hye Sung Kim
Doosan Bears Expected Lineup:
SP - Raul Alcantara
1. Kun Woo Park
3. Jae Il Oh
4. Jae Hwan Kim
7. Jae Won Oh
8. Se Hyuk Park
9. Soo Bin Jung
Top picks:
Jung Hoo Lee, Heroes: Lee is coming off a 3-for-4 Sunday, and he has racked up six multi-hit performances in his last nine contests. As if that wasn't enough, the veteran slugger has hit for .338 with five homers and 17 RBI in 68 July at-bats.
Jose Fernandez, Bears: Just like Lee, Fernandez should be one of the top candidates for the MVP award this season, as he has been one of the most dominant offensive players in the league during the 2020 campaign. The Doosan slugger is riding a five-game hitting streak and enters this matchup hitting .369 in 65 July at-bats.
Keon Chang Seo, Heroes: Seo hits at the top of the order for the Heroes and that's enough reason to consider him an important piece of the offense, but he has had success against the Bears in 2020. The second baseman has gone 5-for-13 (.385) with a .429 on-base percentage in 13 at-bats against Doosan in 2020. He is also hitting .294 during the current month.
Eric Jokisch, Heroes: Picking a pitcher between Jokisch and Alcantara seems to be a daunting task, but the former Chicago Cubs prospect has been more consistent all season long and that gives him the edge in this duel.
Captaincy Options:
Dream11 Team
P – Eric Jokisch
C – Se Hyuk Park
IF – Jose Fernandez (VC)
IF – Keon Chang Seo
IF – Hye Sung Kim
IF – Joo Hyung Kim
OF – Jung Hoo Lee (C)
OF – Joon Tae Park
OF – Soo Bin Jung
