This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
Samsung Lions (40-45-1) vs SK Wyverns (29-56-1)
Thursday, August 20th, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP David Buchanan (10-6, 3.70 ERA) vs LHP Seung Geon Baek (0-3, 8.44 ERA)
Game Preview
Both the Wyverns and the Lions are near the bottom of the standings and, with a little more than a month left in the regular season, it's hard to see either team making a run at a potential playoff spot. That said, the Wyverns are on a two-game winning streak and have gone 5-5 in their last 10 contests, while the Lions are on a three-game losing run and have won just four of their last 10 games. Furthermore, the Wyverns scored 26 runs (!!) Wednesday against the Eagles, so their offense is clicking right now. The pitching matchup features David Buchanan on the mound for the Lions, and Seung Geon Baek for the Wyverns. Buchanan is the better pitcher, but it remains to be seen how he'll deal with an offense that should be full of confidence after Wednesday's impressive display.
Injuries
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
Samsung Lions (40-45-1) vs SK Wyverns (29-56-1)
Thursday, August 20th, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP David Buchanan (10-6, 3.70 ERA) vs LHP Seung Geon Baek (0-3, 8.44 ERA)
Game Preview
Both the Wyverns and the Lions are near the bottom of the standings and, with a little more than a month left in the regular season, it's hard to see either team making a run at a potential playoff spot. That said, the Wyverns are on a two-game winning streak and have gone 5-5 in their last 10 contests, while the Lions are on a three-game losing run and have won just four of their last 10 games. Furthermore, the Wyverns scored 26 runs (!!) Wednesday against the Eagles, so their offense is clicking right now. The pitching matchup features David Buchanan on the mound for the Lions, and Seung Geon Baek for the Wyverns. Buchanan is the better pitcher, but it remains to be seen how he'll deal with an offense that should be full of confidence after Wednesday's impressive display.
Injuries
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
8/19 10:10 PM IST - Palka is on track to make his KBO debut Sunday against the Giants, Daniel Kim of DKTV reports. Palka completed his 14-day quarantine period and began baseball activities Wednesday. He will see action for Samsung's Futures League team this week, and barring any setbacks will take the field this weekend. Palka figures to play regularly in the Lions' outfield once is officially added to the roster.
SK Wyverns
Jae Hoon Ha - Out - Shoulder
8/10 4:56 PM IST - Ha will miss two months with an injury to his right shoulder, In Ha Kwon of The Chosun Ilbo reports. The reigning saves champion suffered another setback during a relief appearance for SK's Futures League team Friday. He now needs two more months to recover despite being on the verge of returning from an undisclosed injury. Ha's season is likely over, with a 7.62 ERA and just four saves this year.
Jin Gi Jeong - 10-Day IL - Undisclosed
6/16 3:31 PM IST - Jeong is not in Tuesday's lineup versus KT, MyKBOStats.com reports. The 27-year-old will be left out as the Wyverns rotate their outfield once more. Jeong hit .156 through the first two weeks of June.
Eui Yoon Jeong - Out - Not Injury Related
7/11 10:57 PM IST - Jeong was removed from the Wyverns' roster Saturday, according to chosun.com. Jeong was one of SK's top hitters over the last few seasons, but he has had a down year and is just 5-for-31 (.161) over his last 13 games, so the club decided to send him down in an effort to get him back on track.
Ji Kwang Kang - Out - Shoulder
6/15 2:22 PM IST - Kang, who has alternated between position player and relief pitcher the last few seasons, will resume pitching in Futures League games Wednesday, Tae Woo Kim of SPOTV reports. Kang converted from pitcher to hitter when he was drafted in 2009, per the Yonhap News Agency, but he never saw much action as a hitter and gave pitching another shot a couple years ago. The move appeared to be a good one, as he allowed just three earned runs in 16.1 innings (1.65 ERA) over his final 15 appearances last season. However, he was plagued by shoulder soreness that sidelined him after mid-June and entered this season as a hitter again. He is now feeling good enough to give pitching another shot, and if all goes well he could be a factor out of the Wyverns' bullpen at some point soon.
Chang Pyung Kim - 10-Day IL - Shoulder
7/8 10:43 PM IST - Kim (shoulder) is playing in Futures League games, according to Tae Woo Kim of SPOTV. Kim did not return in late June as expected, but considering he's at least seeing game action, it shouldn't be long until he is deemed ready to rejoin SK's top club.
Tae Hoon Kim - Out - Undisclosed
8/15 10:32 PM IST - Kim was removed from the Wyverns' roster Saturday, according to Su Jin Park of Star News. Kim allowed just one run over four relief appearances after being recalled by SK in early August, but he pitched each of the last three days, so the team decided to replace him with a fresh arm.
Tyler White - Out - Not Injury Related
7/30 11:37 AM IST - White is scheduled to arrive in South Korea on Friday, Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News reports. The 29-year-old signed with the Wyverns in mid-July and has now arrived in Korea, though he still must complete the mandatory 14-day quarantine. The team provided him some training equipment, so he'll be able to work out and begin working his way toward game readiness. White split last season between the Astros and Dodgers with a .612 OPS, but in 2018 he had 12 homers and an .887 OPS in 66 major-league games. He's expected to be ready to make his debut for the Wyverns on Aug. 18.
SK Wyverns Expected Lineup
SP - Seung Geon Baek
1. Ji Hoon Choi
2. Tae Gon Oh
3. Jeong Choi
4. Tae In Chae
5. Jamie Romak
6. Dong Min Han
Samsung Lions Expected Lineup
SP - David Buchanan
1. Hae Min Park
2. Ji Chan Kim
3. Ja Wook Koo
4. Won Seok Lee
7. Min Ho Kang
8. Heon Gon Kim
Top Picks From Each Team
Jeong Choi, Wyverns: Choi went 2-for-3 with a three-run shot, five total RBI, an additional run scored and two walks in Wednesday's win over the Eagles. Choi continues to be SK's top offensive threat despite hitting just .244 with a .818 OPS in August. He has three homers and 16 RBI in 45 at-bats this month.
Min Ho Kang, Lions: Kang is one of the top offensive catchers in the KBO and, considering the Lions have struggled offensively for the better part of the year, Kang could be the one able to revive their offense. He is hitting .343 with three homers and seven RBI this month.
Captaincy Options
Dream11 Team
P – Seung Geon Baek
C – Min Ho Kang
IF – Jeong Choi (C)
IF – Jamie Romak (VC)
IF – Gye Beom Park
IF – Tae In Chae
OF – Kang Min Kim
OF – Dong Yeop Kim
OF – Dong Min Han
