This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
KT Wiz (34-33-1) vs Kia Tigers (37-29)
Thursday, July 30th, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Odrisamer Despaigne (7-5, 4.41 ERA) vs LHP Hyun Jong Yang (6-5, 6.00 ERA)
Game Preview
The Wiz and the Tigers are yet to play this week due to several rainouts, and they are scheduled to face each other Thursday. The Wiz are just one game above the .500 mark and are in a tight spot when it comes to the playoff race, while the Tigers are in fourth place and in a tight battle for a postseason berth. The pitching matchup might favor the Wiz, though, as Odrisamer Despaigne will go against lefty Hyun Jong Yang. Yang has gone 1-1 with a 6.30 ERA against KT this season, while Despaigne is 2-0 with a stellar 1.84 ERA when facing the Tigers in 2020. The Cuban hurler will need to be at his best to carry the Wiz to another win.
Injuries
Kia Tigers
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
KT Wiz (34-33-1) vs Kia Tigers (37-29)
Thursday, July 30th, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Odrisamer Despaigne (7-5, 4.41 ERA) vs LHP Hyun Jong Yang (6-5, 6.00 ERA)
Game Preview
The Wiz and the Tigers are yet to play this week due to several rainouts, and they are scheduled to face each other Thursday. The Wiz are just one game above the .500 mark and are in a tight spot when it comes to the playoff race, while the Tigers are in fourth place and in a tight battle for a postseason berth. The pitching matchup might favor the Wiz, though, as Odrisamer Despaigne will go against lefty Hyun Jong Yang. Yang has gone 1-1 with a 6.30 ERA against KT this season, while Despaigne is 2-0 with a stellar 1.84 ERA when facing the Tigers in 2020. The Cuban hurler will need to be at his best to carry the Wiz to another win.
Injuries
Kia Tigers
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.
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.
KT Wiz
Jae Yoon Kim - 10-Day IL - Elbow
7/25 1:50 PM IST - Kim was placed on the injured list Saturday with elbow pain, Tae Woo Kim of SPOTV reports. The 29-year-old will reportedly rest about one week after his MRI revealed no major damage. Kim currently has a 5.27 ERA through 27.1 innings this season. KT promoted left-handed pitcher Chang Jae Lee ahead of Saturday's game against the Dinos.
Dae Eun Lee - Out - Side
7/3 1:30 AM IST - Lee (side) threw a 45-pitch simulated game Thursday, Taewoo Kim of SpoTVNews.co.kr reports. Lee experienced no side discomfort during the throwing session, so he's expected to join the Wiz's Futures League affiliate as soon as Sunday to begin a rehab assignment. The right-handed reliever has not pitched for the Wiz since May 19 due to the injury, so he may need an appearance or two in the Futures League before rejoining the big club. Once he's activated, Lee could be a candidate to close for the Wiz with Jae Yoon Kim (6.05 ERA, 1.71 WHIP in 19.1 innings) having struggled in that role so far this season.
Tae Gon Oh - Out - Not Injury Related
7/14 11:30 PM IST - Oh was placed on the injured list Tuesday with a right ankle injury, according to chosun.com. It's not clear how long Oh will be sidelined, but he will miss at least a few days. His absence should not have a noticeable effect, as he totaled just two at-bats since July 3.
KT Wiz Expected Lineup
SP - Odrisamer Despaigne
1. Yong Ho Jo
3. Mel Rojas
4. Baek Ho Kang
5. Han Joon Yoo
9. Woo Jun Sim
Kia Tigers Expected Lineup
SP - Hyun Jong Yang
4. Ji Wan Na
5. Min Sik Kim
6. Min Sang Yoo
7. Joo Hwan Na
8. Chan Ho Park
Top Picks
Mel Rojas, Wiz: Rojas saw his four-game hitting streak come to an end in his last game July 26, but he continues to be one of the best hitters in the league. The slugging outfielder is batting .421 with seven homers and 18 RBI in 20 July games.
Preston Tucker, Tigers: Tucker has hit safely in three of his last four games, and he remains a reliable offensive threat for the Tigers, especially with Sun Bin Kim sidelined. The slugging outfielder is hitting .259 with five homers and 15 RBI in 81 July at-bats.
Baek Ho Kang, Wiz: Kang is not as dangerous as Rojas, but he is still a force to be reckoned with in the middle of KT's lineup. He is hitting .250 with a .707 OPS in 20 July games, but he has provided two homers and 11 RBI in that stretch.
Odrisamer Despaigne, Wiz: Despaigne has gone 2-0 with a 1.84 ERA against the Tigers, who won't have their top hitter available in Sun Bin Kim, this season. He has been extremely consistent this season and certainly profiles as the strongest pitching alternative ahead of this contest.
Captaincy Options
Dream11 Team
C – Sung Woo Jang
IF – Joo Hwan Na
IF – Jong Pyo Hong
OF – Chang Jin Lee
OF – Mel Rojas (C)
OF – Preston Tucker
OF – Baek Ho Kang
OF – Yong Ho Jo (VC)
