This article is part of our Dream11 Fantasy KBO series.
SK Wyverns (25-52-1) at KT Wiz (39-35-1)
Tuesday, August 11th, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Ricardo Pinto (4-7, 5.67 ERA) vs RHP Hyeong Jun So (5-5, 5.29 ERA)
Game Preview
The Wiz are undoubtedly the better team and, in fact, they could be considered as one of the top teams in the league at the moment with a 7-3 record over their last 10 contests, while featuring an MVP candidate in Mel Rojas anchoring their lineup. The same can't be said about the Wyverns, however, and they're already thinking about their 2021 campaign after posting subpar results all year long. The pitching matchup also favors the Wiz, as they will start Hyeong Jun So while Ricardo Pinto will get the nod for the Wyverns. So's 5.29 ERA doesn't really impress, but it looks quite good compared to what Pinto has done of late. The Wyverns right-hander owns an inflated 9.25 ERA with a 2.34 WHIP, 3.3 K/9 and 5.9 BB/9 across 24.1 innings over his last five starts.
Injuries
KT Wiz
Min Hyeok Kim - Out - Back
8/6 9:47 PM IST - Kim was placed on the injured list Thursday with back soreness, Ik Rae Choi of the Dong-A Ilbo reports. Kim's injury does not appear to be serious, but it will sideline him for at least the next several games.
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
SK Wyverns (25-52-1) at KT Wiz (39-35-1)
Tuesday, August 11th, 5:30 AM EDT
Projected Starters
RHP Ricardo Pinto (4-7, 5.67 ERA) vs RHP Hyeong Jun So (5-5, 5.29 ERA)
Game Preview
The Wiz are undoubtedly the better team and, in fact, they could be considered as one of the top teams in the league at the moment with a 7-3 record over their last 10 contests, while featuring an MVP candidate in Mel Rojas anchoring their lineup. The same can't be said about the Wyverns, however, and they're already thinking about their 2021 campaign after posting subpar results all year long. The pitching matchup also favors the Wiz, as they will start Hyeong Jun So while Ricardo Pinto will get the nod for the Wyverns. So's 5.29 ERA doesn't really impress, but it looks quite good compared to what Pinto has done of late. The Wyverns right-hander owns an inflated 9.25 ERA with a 2.34 WHIP, 3.3 K/9 and 5.9 BB/9 across 24.1 innings over his last five starts.
Injuries
KT Wiz
Min Hyeok Kim - Out - Back
8/6 9:47 PM IST - Kim was placed on the injured list Thursday with back soreness, Ik Rae Choi of the Dong-A Ilbo reports. Kim's injury does not appear to be serious, but it will sideline him for at least the next several games.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Jong Wook Ko - Out - Not Injury Related
8/2 1:27 PM IST - Ko was demoted by the Wyverns on Sunday, Tae Woo Kim of SPOTV reports. SK promoted Kyung Ho Kim before Sunday's canceled game against the Wiz. Ko struggled in July, hitting a paltry .129 with seven strikeouts over 31 at-bats.
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.
KT Wiz Expected Lineup
SP - Hyeong Jun So
1. Yong Ho Jo
3. Mel Rojas
4. Baek Ho Kang
5. Han Joon Yoo
9. Woo Jun Sim
SK Wyverns Expected Lineup
SP - Ricardo Pinto
1. Ji Hoon Choi
3. Jeong Choi
4. Tae In Chae
5. Jamie Romak
6. Dong Min Han
9. Jae Hyun Kim
Top Picks
Mel Rojas, Wiz: Rojas went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's win over the Eagles. Rojas continues to punish opposing pitchers and hit his 28th long ball of the season -- it was in the second inning and against starter Chad Bell. Rojas is an MVP candidate in 2020 and has been absolutely lethal in August, slashing .500/.588/.1.143 with two homers and five RBI in just 14 at-bats. He is the league leader in home runs by a wide margin.
Yong Ho Jo, Wiz: Jo is riding an eight-game hitting streak following a 2-for-5 performance Sunday, in which he scored two runs. The Wiz's leadoff hitter has slashed .400/.455/.433 during that eight-game hitting run, scoring five runs. He will create havoc as long as he can get on base at an effective clip.
Jeong Choi, Wyverns: Choi has been the Wyverns' biggest offensive threat by a wide margin. Since July 13 onwards, the veteran third baseman has gone 20-for-63 (.317) with seven home runs, 18 RBI, a 9:11 B:KK ratio, and a 1.109 OPS. Those are stellar numbers, but gain even more value considering he anchors a very weak lineup.
Baek Ho Kang, Wiz: Kang has hit safely in six of the Wiz's last seven games, posting a .333 average in that span. He benefits from hitting fourth in the lineup, as he will constantly have RBI chances with both Yong Ho Jo and Mel Rojas sitting above him in the order.
Captaincy Options
Dream11 Team
P – Hyeong Jun So
C – Hyeon Woo Kang
IF – Kyung Soo Park
IF – Jeong Choi
IF – Sung Hyun Kim
OF – Yong Ho Jo (VC)
OF – Mel Rojas (C)
OF – Baek Ho Kang
OF – Hyun Woo Chae
