Dream11 Fantasy KBO: Tigers at Giants

Kia Tigers (50-45) at Lotte Giants (47-45-1)

Friday, September 4th, 2:00 AM EDT

Projected Starters

LHP Hyun Jong Yang (9-6, 4.92 ERA) vs RHP Jun Won Seo (6-4, 4.77 ERA)

Game Preview

The Tigers and the Giants are next to each other in the KBO standings, but the Tigers have a better position solely because they've won two more games – albeit playing two more contests as well. Both sides remain alive in the race for a spot in the playoffs, but time is running out for both franchises. The pitching matchup will feature two arms that have posted similar numbers to date – Hyun Jong Yang has a 4.92 ERA for the Tigers and Jun Won Seo has a 4.77 ERA for the Giants. Whoever has a better performance on the mound could go a long way towards carrying his team to victory.

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 - Hamstring

8/27 1:24 AM IST - Kim (hamstring) has been cleared to resume baseball-related activities since being shut down earlier this month, Soo Jin Park of the Money Today Star News reports. Kim is expected to test out the health of his right hamstring in a rehab game with the Tigers' Futures League affiliate in the near future, so he could be ready to make his way back to the big club at some point in early September. The middle infielder has been one of the Tigers' top hitters this season, slashing .349/.429/.428 over 191 plate appearances.

Joo Chan Kim - 10-Day IL - Back

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.

Tae Jin Kim - 10-Day IL - Ankle

8/27 1:22 AM IST - Kim (ankle) is scheduled to appear in a game with the Tigers' Futures League affiliate Thursday, Soo Jin Park of the Money Today Star News reports. Kim is still waiting to make his debut for the parent club since being acquired from the Dinos on Aug. 12. Before the trade, Kim had been sidelined since July 9 with the right ankle injury, but he looks to be nearing a return to full health six weeks later. Kim was slashing .217/.250/.289 across 88 plate appearances prior to being shut down with the injury.

Chang Jin Lee - Out - Hamstring

8/6 9:38 PM IST - Lee left Thursday's game against the Twins with a right thigh injury and will be out at least two weeks, according to sportsseoul.com. Lee has been a steady presence atop the Tigers' lineup since making his season debut in early July, but the team will be forced to use other options in the leadoff spot until he is ready to get back on the field.

Joo Hwan Na - 10-Day IL - Back

8/27 9:31 PM IST - Na was placed back on the injured list Thursday with a back injury, according to news1.kr. Na was activated from the injured list Wednesday after seemingly overcoming his back injury, but he tweaked something before the game and will now miss more time.

Joon Pyo Park - Out - Finger

8/4 2:42 PM IST - Park was demoted from the Kia roster Tuesday due to pain in his right ring finger, Tae Woo Kim of SPOTV reports. The reliever suffered the injury lifting weights before Tuesday's game against LG. The 28-year-old reportedly lost control while holding a dumbbell, causing the hyperextension of his ring finger. Kia promoted Joon Young Lee on Tuesday to replace Park.

Ji Hyuk Ryu - Out - Hamstring

8/6 9:43 PM IST - Ryu (hamstring) is ready to begin playing in rehab games, according to Tae Woo Kim of SPOTV. Ryu jumped right into a start spot after being acquired by the Tigers in early June, but he injured his hamstring in his fifth game with the club and has been sidelined since. While Ryu is set to get back on the field, manager Matt Williams did not provide an estimated date for Ryu's return to KIA's first team.

Lotte Giants -

Seung Heon Lee - 10-Day IL - Forehead

6/16 9:13 PM IST - Lee (forehead) was cleared to resume working out with the Giants on Tuesday, Yonhap News Agency reports. Lee has been on the shelf since May 17, when he was removed from his start against Hanwha after taking a line drive to the forehead. The right-hander was diagnosed with a microfracture in his forehead, but he was fortunate to avoid surgery and looks to have progressed well in his recovery over the past month. Lee expects to increase the intensity of his workouts over the next several days, but it's uncertain when or if he'll return to the Giants' active roster. The Giants no longer have an opening in the rotation for Lee with Adrian Sampson having since rejoined the team in May after completing his quarantine upon returning from North America.

Kia Tigers Expected Lineup

SP - Jun Won Seo

1. Hoon Jung

2. Ah Seop Son

3. Jun Woo Jeon

4. Dae Ho Lee

5. Dong Hee Han

6. Dixon Machado

7. Chi Hong An

8. Bo Geun Jung

9. Byung Hun Min

Kia Tigers Expected Lineup

SP - Hyun Jong Yang

1. Won Joon Choi

2. Preston Tucker

3. Hyung Woo Choi

4. Ji Wan Na

5. Min Sang Yoo

6. Min Sik Kim

7. Chan Ho Park

8. Jong Pyo Hong

9. Yoon Ho Hwang

Top Picks / Captaincy Options

1. Dae Ho Lee
2. Ji Wan Na
3. Preston Tucker
4. Ah Seop Son

Dream11 Team

P – Jun Won Seo

C – Bo Geun Jung

IF – Dixon Machado

IF – Dae Ho Lee (C)

IF – Jung Min Choi

OF – Ah Seop Son (VC)

OF – Ji Wan Na

OF – Byung Hun Min

OF – Preston Tucker